Watch: Rebel MLA groups break into fight at Meham polling booth during Haryana elections

NEW DELHI: Haryana MLA Balraj Kundu, leader of the Haryana Jan Sevak Party, accused former MLA Anand Singh Dangi of physically assaulting him and his personal assistant. The alleged incident occurred amidst the heated election atmosphere in Meham.
In a video statement, Kundu detailed the incident, claiming that Dangi personally attacked him. "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," said Kundu, pointing to his personal assistant and adding, "This is the condition of my personal assistant."

Kundu attributed the alleged assault to Dangi's frustration over his electoral chances. "It’s the panic of his impending loss. Today, he's thinking of causing another 'Meham Kaand' ("Aaj woh firr ek Meham Kaand karane ka soch rha hai"]. I appeal to all the people of my constituency to maintain peace and not fall for his provocations" ("Meri aapke pure halke ke logon se appeal hai ki shanti banaye rkhe, iski (Anand Singh Dangi) baaton mein naa ayee. Shanti aur bhaichara bana kar rkahna hai aur iss chunao ko ladna hai").

The term Meham Kaand refers to a violent and controversial political event that occurred in 1990 during a by-election in the Meham constituency. The by-election, contested by Anand Singh Dangi and then-chief minister Om Prakash Chautala (son of former deputy PM Chaudhary Devi Lal) was infamous for widespread violence, rigging, and clashes between political supporters. The chaos resulted in multiple deaths, and there were serious allegations of electoral malpractice and misuse of state machinery by Chautala's administration, with claims that polling booths were taken over by his supporters. The incident became a symbol of political malpractice in Haryana’s electoral history.
Anand Singh Dangi, Congress leader and four-time former lawmaker, has passed on the electoral baton to his son, Balram Dangi. Balram is facing a tough contest against Kundu, who floated the Haryana Jan Sevak Party after parting ways with the BJP. Other notable candidates in the race include Radha Ahlawat, the wife of rebel BJP leader Shamsher Singh Kharkara, and BJP's Deepak Hooda, former Indian kabaddi team captain.