Haryana’s Sirsa MLA Gopal Kanda, who was recently acquitted in the Geetika suicide case, has expressed his desire to join the cabinet. However, it seems unlikely that his wishes will be fulfilled due to the existing caste equation in the cabinet, which does not favour him.
Kanda’s potential inclusion in the cabinet is facing challenges, primarily because there are already strong contenders for the position. Bhavya Bishnoi, the MLA from Adampur, left Congress and joined BJP, winning his seat and securing support for the party. With two Bishnoi community MLAs in the government, Bhavya Bishnoi’s claim for a cabinet position is seen as strong. Moreover, Gopal Kanda’s Halopa party may need to merge with the BJP to improve his chances.
The current cabinet composition consists of ministers from various castes, including Brahmin, Vaishya, Sikh, Dalit, Gurjar, Punjabi, Yadav, and Jat communities. The presence of ministers representing these diverse castes leaves little room for accommodating Kanda, whose community’s representation is not in his favour.
Apart from the caste equation, Kanda’s focus on expanding his business in Goa, where he runs a casino under the name of Big Daddy, could also impact his immediate political ambitions.
As of now, the BJP government in Haryana has a significant majority with 41 MLAs of its own, and additional support from other parties and independent MLAs. Given the current political dynamics and the existing contenders, Kanda’s claim for a cabinet position appears weak. While there might be discussions about his inclusion in the cabinet, it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds and whether any future cabinet expansion can accommodate his aspirations.
