Rakesh Tikait addressed a gathering in Ellenabad, Haryana today. file
Chandigarh:
Farmers leader Rakesh Tikait today warned against using money power to woo voters against the BJP, indicating that farmers are supporting the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) candidate in Haryana’s Ellenabad bypolls to be held on October 30.
Mr Tikait, however, stopped openly supporting either side and clarified that he was not endorsing a candidate.
Addressing a gathering of farmers in Ellenabad, Mr. Tikait said, “This area is a panchayati area and no one lives in the panchayat. If someone has left his bag with you six months ago and asks for it Came back, give him someone went to Canada, his family stayed there, he put a bag in the gurdwara three years ago. This is his bag, you don’t need to open and find his things, you give it back , add some more to it.” he said.
The remark is being seen as a veiled advice to support INLD leader Abhay Chautala, who quit as an MLA in support of farmers’ protest against the Centre’s agriculture laws and is now contesting the bypoll.
Hitting out at the BJP, Mr. Tikait said, “These BJP people are planners. This Modi government runs on big money. Big corporates are running this company. They want to buy the sarpanch. Is there any sarpanch who can be trusted by his own?” Can money be bought?”
He warned people against using money power to swing elections, saying, “These are the people who buy panchayats. Be careful, they are crooks. Go do your job and add some more to the person who left his bag.” is,” he said. Farmer leader.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha – a united front of farmer organizations opposing agricultural laws – has a clear position not to support any party in the elections, even if it opposes the BJP, Mr. Tikait said with a disclaimer. Comment terminated. “These media people will say that I have supported a candidate but I have not done so. All I am saying is that these BJP people are crooks. Return the things to the person who left his belongings,” he said.
Ahead of the Bengal elections earlier this year, where the BJP faced defeat after the Mamata Banerjee government returned to power, Mr. Tikait had addressed rallies in the state and campaigned against the BJP. He has also said that he will campaign against the BJP in next year’s Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
As far as the Ellenabad by-election is concerned, it is an important election for both the BJP and the INLD. The constituency is a stronghold of the Chautala clan, which split when Dushyant Chautala founded the Jannayak Janata Party and joined hands with the BJP.
Abhay Chautala was INLD’s lone MLA in the 90-member assembly and a defeat in the bypoll would not give the party any representation in the House.
For the BJP, the defeat will be seen as a mandate against agricultural laws.
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