It was a strange situation during the campaigning phase of the Haryana's assembly elections. BJP alliance partner in Punjab Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal went all out to support the Indian National Lok Dal. The Badals insisted they had longstanding ties with the Chautalas and had informed the BJP leadership of their support to the INLD - despite how important winning Haryana was to the BJP.
“SAD and INLD together are contesting for 90 seats. The next government will be that of Om Prakash Chautala. Haryana progressed during Chautala’s rule,” said Sukhbir Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal
The tension between the two parties soon rose to the surface. Former BJP MP Navjot Sidhu hit out at the political positioning of the SAD in Haryana.
“These people (SAD) are the same people who hug and kiss BJP in Punjab and wrestle with it in Haryana. How can our alliance partner in Punjab support a convicted person for the post of the Chief Minister? They are stabbing us in the back,” Navjot Sidhu, Leader, BJP, said.
Other BJP leaders in Punjab have also begun to say the party should distance itself from the SAD and contest the 2017 assembly elections in Punjab on its own - powered by the Modi wave. The Punjab BJP unit though maintains that the party will decide on its alliance with the sad at the appropriate time.
According to Kamal Sharma, President - Punjab Unit, BJP, “BJP has become stronger under Modi. Our alliance with the SAD is strong. We will cross the bridge when we come to it.”
The Akali Dal has denied any rift - saying ties with the BJP are as solid as ever.
Bikram Majithia, Minister, Punjab, said: “BJP relation with SAD is a deep relationship. When it came to Modi becoming Prime Minister we were the first to support him….if you ask us a hundred times also...this relationship will stay together.”
BJP has been the minor partner in the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab. With 12 seats in the 117 member assembly, hitting the 59 mark to form the government on its own in 2017 might be a challenge. However, the results of the Haryana elections where the BJP went from 4 seats to 47 to form a majority government - may propehsize a favourable outcome for the party in Punjab.
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