Sunday, December 16, marked the launch of two new political outfits in Punjab, with the decisive 2019 Lok Sabha polls just about a few months away.
Both the parties have so much in common — they are breakaway faction of the main political outfits in the State, formed by the rebel leaders of these parties, and both the parties are in opposition in the Congress-ruled state.
Senior leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) splintered from the party to form the Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali), while another outfit — the Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) comprised suspended and rebel leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
With the ruling Congress has all along been sitting on the fence closely watching the infighting between both the parties, the formation of new political outfits has sent alarm bells ringing in its camp.
“Infighting was good for us, but with the new political parties coming up, things may go wrong way for the Congress. It may do something what People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) did in 2012 assembly elections—not winning any seat but eating into Congress’ vote,” a senior Congress leader told The Pioneer, off the record.
In the past, Punjab has always witnessed a one-on-one contest between the Congress and the SAD-BJP combine. It was only after 2014 Lok Sabha polls, that AAP was emerged as an alternative in the state by winning four, out of the total 13 seats.
However, the party failed to keep up the momentum in the next three years, and finished at distant second to Congress in 2017 assembly polls, with just 20 seats in 117-member House. But, the plus point is that it has pushed the SAD-BJP combine to the last spot, becoming the principal opposition party.
But with the emergence of two new political fronts, and the minute possibility of their joining hands, the ensuing 2019 elections are expected to be a cliff-hanger.
Currently, AAP has four MPs, out of which two have been suspended since 2015. Among them Dr Dharamvira Gandhi on Sunday announced formation of Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) with AAP’s rebel MLAs, led by Sukhpal Singh Khiara, and others.
SAD is also represented by four MPs in the Lok Sabha, out of which its Khadoor Sahib MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura has revolted and on Sunday announced SAD (Taksali). Another SAD MP from Ferozepur, Sher Singh Ghubaya, has also revolted against the party, with his son, Devinder Singh Ghubaya currently being the Congress MLA.
Besides, the Congress party has three MPs and BJP two.