The State-level function organised in Phagwara to mark the 125th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar exposed the infighting in Punjab BJP. In the absence of major leaders of the ruling SAD-BJP alliance, the function remained quite dull and unimpressive. As per the schedule of the programme, CM Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal both gave the function a miss.
The function brought to the fore the factionalism among the Dalit leadership of the saffron party. Vijay Sampla, the new chief of the Punjab BJP, too could not keep a date with the function, triggering speculations in the political circles.
The function was being seen as the first big occasion for the BJP to strengthen its base in the backward classes as it was the first program after the party’s reins were handed over to a dalit leader.
Sources close to Sampla said the party chief was not given an invitation for the function. The function was organised by the Punjab Government and the Chief Parliamentary Secretary Som Parkash, another Dalit leader from BJP was given the charge to organise the function.
Som Parkash said that there was no formal invitation for the program but he himself had given a call to Sampla and invited him to the function. He said that Sampla had to be present in New Delhi for the ceremony to be organised in the Parliament House on Ambedkar Jayanti.
On the absence of CM, Som Parkash said that Badal had informed him about his (Badal’s) absence on Wednesday only.
However, it is understood that Sampla was very much in Punjab and was attending functions in his constituency. When asked, Amit Sampla, son of Vijay Sampla, said that there was no communication to them about the program.
The development is significant as the political rivalry between Sampla and Som Parkash is not new, but the act of Som Parkash is being condemned by a large section among the party. A senior leader of the party said that the political rift between two leaders should not be allowed to harm the political prospects of BJP in the election year.
The development gains more significance as the reshuffle in the ministers of BJP in Punjab Cabinet is also on cards. Sampla, while taking over the charge of the party, had said that the party will run a 10 day campaign on rural development and start it from the Ambedkar Jayanti. The leaders who attended the program include Education Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema, Tourism Minister Sohan Singh Thandal, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Mahinder Kaur Josh, SS Phillaur etc.