Chandigarh, October 26: Facing flak from the party's senior leaders and opposition leaders, Bharatiya Janata Party legislator from Ambala Cantonment Anil Vij on Saturday made it clear that Manohar Lal Khattar won't include tainted Sirsa MLA Gopal Kanda in their new cabinet. He also informed that the new BJP government would not even take his support even if it lacks a majority. Even Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad too confirmed that Kanda had been excluded from the cabinet.

Speaking to the media in Chandigarh on Saturday, Vij said, as quoted by news agency ANI, "No question of including Gopal Kanda in the government, neither are we taking his support." The above comment came a day after Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi attacked the BJP for thinking to take tainted MLA Gopal Kanda in their cabinet, who is accused of rape, abetment to suicide, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation. Manohar Lal Khattar to Take Oath as Haryana Chief Minister Tomorrow; State Likely To Have Two Deputy CMs.

Here's is Anil Vij's comment:

Not only from opposition, but BJP is also facing a backlash rom the party's senior leaders. Former Union Minister Uma Bharati had urged the party heads not to take support from Haryana Lokhit Party’s lone MLA Gopal Kanda to form government in the state. She had even stated that Kanda could not get away with crimes just by winning an election and urged the BJP not to take the tainted legislator's support in Haryana.

According to the inputs, there are several criminal cases levelled against him. He is accused of rape, abetment to suicide, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation. Also, charges of income tax evasion to the tune of Rs 40 crore to several cheating cases are filed against him.

After the party meeting in Haryana -- post-Assembly Elections 2019 -- BJP has decided that they would form the next government in the state on Sunday at 2 pm. Incumbent CM Manohar Lal Khattar will swear-in as the next Chief Minister of the state. Khattar is most likely to meet the governor in the evening to stake a claim of the government formation.

In the recently concluded election, BJP secured 40 seats, while Congress won 31 seats. Meanwhile, Jannayak Janata Party -- which won 10 seats -- had given its support to BJP which was falling six seats short of forming the government in the state. Independent candidates, including Kanda, too have expressed their support to Khattar 2.0 government.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 26, 2019 01:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).