Balraj Kundu, the Haryana Jan Sevak Party candidate for the Meham assembly constituency, has accused former Congress MLA Anand Singh Dangi of physically assaulting him and his personal assistant at a polling booth during ongoing election in Rohtak district.
Kundu, who is the current MLA for the Meham assembly seat, stated that Anand Singh Dangi appears to be unsettled by the likelihood of his son, Congress candidate Balram Dangi, losing the election. Kundu described Dangi as being “rattled” by the situation.
In a video statement, Kundu described the alleged attack, stating that Dangi approached him directly. “Anand Singh Dangi is so rattled by the situation that he himself came to booth number 134 at the bus stand in Madina to check if everything was running smoothly. He [Dangi] tore my clothes and had me pushed around,” Kundu explained, referring to his personal assistant and showing concern for their well-being.
Kundu suggested that Dangi’s frustration stemmed from worries about his electoral prospects. “It’s the panic of his impending loss. Today, he’s thinking of causing another ‘Meham Kaand’,” he said. Kundu urged the residents of his constituency to remain calm and not be provoked by Dangi’s actions. “Meri aapke pure halke ke logon se appeal hai ki shanti banaye rkhe, iski (Anand Singh Dangi) baaton mein naa aaye. Shanti aur bhaichara bana kar rakhna hai aur iss chunao ko ladna hai,” he added.
Historical Context of the “Meham Kaand”
The term “Meham Kaand” refers to a notorious and violent political event that took place during a by-election in Meham in 1990. The election, which featured Anand Singh Dangi and then-Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, was marred by extensive violence, voter rigging, and clashes between political supporters. The chaos led to multiple fatalities and serious accusations of electoral fraud and misuse of state resources, particularly against Chautala’s administration, whose supporters were alleged to have taken control of polling booths. This event remains a significant example of political malpractice in Haryana’s electoral history.
Current Political Landscape
Anand Singh Dangi, a Congress leader and four-time former lawmaker, has handed over his electoral responsibilities to his son, Balram Dangi. Balram is now in a challenging race against Kundu, who established the Haryana Jan Sevak Party after leaving the BJP. Other notable contenders in the election include Radha Ahlawat, the wife of rebel BJP leader Shamsher Singh Kharkara, and Deepak Hooda, a former captain of the Indian kabaddi team representing the BJP.