The counting of votes for the Sirsa Assembly constituency in Haryana is underway, with Haryana Lokhit Party's Gopal Kanda currently in the lead. In a surprising turn of events, BJP candidate Rohtash Jangra withdrew his candidature and announced his support for Kanda. The poll battle in Sirsa was between Kanda and Congress candidate Gokul Setia, with Kanda receiving the backing of BJP and INLD-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance. The constituency, one of the 90 in Haryana, has witnessed a direct fight between two strong opponents, making it an important seat to watch.
Gokul Setia, grandson of former Haryana minister and Congress leader Lachhman Dass Arora, has joined the Congress party in a move that could strengthen the party's chances in the Sirsa Assembly constituency in the upcoming Haryana Assembly polls. Gokul, who is a businessman and agriculturist, had previously contested as an independent candidate in the 2019 Assembly polls, losing narrowly to sitting MLA Gopal Kanda. He had also faced threats from gangsters in the past, causing him to seek police protection. Gokul's family has a long history with the Congress, and he had initially joined the BJP before running as an independent in 2019 when he did not receive the party's ticket.
In a surprising turn of events, Gokul Setia, a close aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has joined the Congress party, raising concerns about the party's image. Setia, who has been photographed with Bishnoi in the past, has also been provided with security due to threats from rival gang members. His entry into politics has sparked controversy and raised questions about Congress' moral standards. This comes at a time when the party is finalizing candidates for the upcoming Haryana assembly polls, which have been postponed to October 5 due to a conflict with the Bishnoi community's festival.
Gokul Setia, a 35-year-old politician and grandson of veteran leader Lacchman Dass Arora, formally joins Congress in Haryana. He is expected to be a strong contender against Haryana Lokhit Party's Gopal Kanda in the upcoming assembly elections. Setia, who lost to Kanda in the 2019 election by a narrow margin, had declared assets worth over Rs 16.5 crore. He claims to have been ignored by the state government and is determined to bring attention to his constituency.