The fourth front is finally taking shape, leaving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) out of it.
Even as the AAP had send across a loud and clear message that it was open to alliance with the like-mined parties, the splinter groups of Punjab’s main political parties, including Punjabi Ekta Party (PEP), SAD (Taksali), Lok Insaaf Party, among others on Monday once again put their heads together to give a shape to the grand alliance — Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) — ahead 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The meeting, held at an undisclosed location, decided “consensually” on most of the policy matters besides agreement on many Lok Sabha seat sharing arrangements.
AAP “suspended” MP from Patiala Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, other leaders who participated in the meeting included SAD (Taksali) president and MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, former MP Ratan Singh Ajnala, former MLA Amarpal Singh Bony Ajnala, Punjabi Ekta Party’s Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Lok Insaaf Party’s Simarjeet Singh Bains, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Rashpal Raju and Randhir Beniwal.
The discussion was held on the sharing of seats, besides others issues. Soon, another meeting will be held in the first week of February, wherein decision on the remaining seats would be held, besides sorting out certain issues that could not be discussed in the Monday’s meeting.
Sources informed The Pioneer that Khaira would contest from Bathinda against the Badal bahu Harsimrat Kaur Badal who is currently the Cabinet Minister. Ludhiana parliamentary seat has gone in the share of Bains brothers — Simarjeet and Balwinder Singh Bains as they have a stronghold in the area.
Sitting MP from Khadoor Sahib Brahmpura would seek re-election from the seat, while Dr Gandhi would seek re-election from Patiala.
Initially, the PDA was announced by AAP’s rebel leaders, comprising suspended MP Dr Gandhi, suspended MLA Khaira, along with LIP MLAs Simarjeet Bains and Balwinder Bains, and BSP state unit president Rashpal Raju, while inviting all the “like-minded” parties to come along.
Later, SAD (Taksali) too joined hands with the PDA, which had already announced to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
It has been learnt that AAP’s former state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who had also floated his own outfit — Apna Punjab Party — ahead 2017 assembly polls, would also join hands soon. He may get a ticket from Gurdaspur.
Khaira, who was unceremoniously removed as the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha by the AAP central leadership in August, suspended from the party, and later he resigned from AAP, said that the PDA would aim to liberate Punjab from the clutches of corrupt traditional parties and the corrupt feudal families.
While PEP is formed by Khaira who rebelled against AAP and later joined by another AAP MLA from Jaiton Master Baldev Singh, SAD (Taksali) was constituted by the rebel traditional Akalis including sitting MP Brahmpura, former Minister Sekhwan and Ajnala. LIP was also formed by Bains brothers — Simarjeet and Balwinder — who were also part of SAD but parted ways before 2012 state assembly elections.
All the break-away factions are joining hands against the traditional political parties — the Congress, SAD led by the Badals, and the BJP — to provide the electorates an alternative.
Although Brahmpura and AAP MP Bhagwant Mann had maintained that talks for an alliance were going on, the same was opposed by the Bains brothers. “The meeting was held in a very cordial and positive atmosphere, where we all discussed the major political issues facing Punjab and the political scenario of the country in view of impending Lok Sabha polls,” said Khaira.
Sources maintained that extensive discussion was held on taking AAP along but the same was opposed by Bains brothers, and also Dr Gandhi.
Khaira said that the meeting was held at an undisclosed place so that long meaningful discussions could take place without any interference or disturbance. “The alliance partners arrived at consensus on most of the policy matters besides agreement on many Lok Sabha seat sharing arrangements,” he said.