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BJP may go alone in Punjab Assembly elections

BJP is not wiling to play the role of younger brother to SAD anymore

Chandigarh: The electoral success in Haryana could further embolden Bharatiya Janata Party to replicate the experiment of going alone in neighbouring Punjab.

Although the Assembly elections in Punjab are more than two years away, but the growing distance between alliance BJP and Akalis in Punjab is now well known for some time.

The decision of the Shriomani Akali Dal (SAD) to make alliance with Indian National Lok Dal in Haryana the main political rival of the BJP had not gone down well with the BJP cadres and local BJP leadership, who wanted Akali’s not to ally with INLD.

The BJP in Punjab had in the past had played a minor role in the alliance and had little say in the major policy decisions.

However, thinks changed after Akali-BJP’s below par performance in Punjab during parliamentary elections, even as the BJP did very well elsewhere in the country.

Since then there was this attempt by the BJP to get a larger share in the power and bigger say in the major policy decision of the state.

Interestingly, with tasting victory for the first time in Haryana state where it had little presence prior to this election would encourage people to make inroads into Punjab.

Sources in the BJP say that the fact that Aklai’s canvassed against their candidates even they won elections with BJP’s help in Punjab would affect the alliance.

They say that the BJP is not wiling to play the role of younger brother anymore and would like to have bigger pie in the state.

Former BJP MP and cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu who canvassed for BJP in Haryana and had many diatribes against Badal’s during the campaign even as his security cover in Punjab was withdrawn and restored next day by Akali government, is more forthcoming about his views “It was neither a coalition Dhrama nor Rastra Dhrama. It was merely forged on the basis of vested interest” he says about the Akali–INLD alliance in Haryana.

Even though Sidhu does not comment on weather BJP should go alone in Punjab as he says “ this is for party high command to decide”.

However he advises Aklai to do soul searching as the people of Harayna have rejected those who were neck deep in corruption in the past and have opted for the politics of development.

( Source : dc )
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