The saffron party, it seems, is not willing to let go the Akalis. Amidst demand within the party cadre to claim greater seat-share in Punjab besides resurfacing of differences between the two age old alliances in a run up to the Delhi Assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janta Party’s (BJP) national president JP Nadda is all set to hold meeting with the Akali veteran Parkash Singh Badal at his residence on Thursday.
Besides meeting the former Chief Minister in his first meeting to the State as the BJP chief, Nadda is also scheduled to hold meetings with the party leader and workers of Muktsar, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Faridkot, which are primarily the Akali dominated areas. The intention behind the entire process is being seen as an attempt by the BJP to narrow the gulf between the two parties, while it is also being seen as the party; attempt o widen its base in the State with an eye on 2022 State Assembly elections.
Nadda’s meeting with Punjab’s five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will be held at his native village Badal in Muktsar Sahib district. It is believed that the meeting will reduce the prevailing rift between the two collation partners. Notably, Punjab BJP leaders has been demanding to increase the party share in the seat allocation with several senior leaders stressing that the BJP should take over the role of “big brother” in the alliance which the Akali Dal has been playing since long.
On the other hand, the BJP wanted to gain support for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) — a decision which has been under attack across the country. Only recently, the senior Badal had talked about including Muslims in the CAA while describing the country’s current environment as worrying. He had advised the BJP to carry the allied parties along.
Before that, the SAD had decided against contesting the Delhi Assembly polls in protest after the “BJP asked it to change its stand on the CAA”. After voting in favour of CAA in the Parliament, the SAD has been demanding to include the Muslims also.
Ahead Delhi polls, Nadda himself came forward to bridge the rift between the two parties. And it is believed that this meeting is also an attempt to appease the Akali Dal, as the BJP, at this point of time, could not afford to lose any support.
“This is just a courtesy call. Badal is senior leader, the eldest in the NDA. As the head, he is coming to seek his blessings,” said a senior BJP leader, downplaying the party chief’s visit.
As per the schedule, Nadda will arrive at Bathinda Airport on Thursday morning. From there, he will go to Amritsar by road and pay his obeisance at Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, and Ram Tirath.
Only a day before, Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma reached out to the Akali patriarch at his Badal village residence, and reportedly discussed the political scenario.
At the same time, Nadda will also held meeting with the party leaders and workers of Muktsar, Bathinda rural and urban, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Faridkot areas. Interestingly, out of the six constituencies where Nadda would be meeting with the workers, the BJP has no seats as per the coalition seat sharing arrangement.