Buoyant by its victory in Haryana, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday made it clear to its coalition partner in Punjab — the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) — that the party would not take things lying down. The party indicated that it was not averse to the idea of “broadening its base” in Punjab and the BJP was not just an “urban party”.
BJP’s Punjab unit chief Kamal Sharma minced no words to say that the party’s capabilities were well beyond capturing just 23 Assembly seats or three parliamentary seats, and was in a position to field its candidates on all the 117 Assembly segments in Punjab. BJP, in coalition with the Akali Dal, contests 23 assembly seats out of total 117, and three parliamentary seats out of 13 in Punjab. At the same time, Sharma insisted that the SAD-BJP coalition was not in danger, and “solid as before”.
His assertion assumed significance as the BJP’s single-handedly victory in Haryana, coupled with the SAD’s decision to support the Indian National lok Dal (INlD) and campaign against it for some seats was being seen as the beginning of an end to a danger partnership.
The party’s performance in Maharashtra too had given rise to political speculation of a break-up. Emerging strong and adopting somewhat aggressive stance, the BJP is now gearing up to claim what are its rights and share. It has already signaled that the saffron brigade is, in no way, going to play second fiddle in the coalition government. Of late, Sharma criticized the state government’s “laxity” in its war against drugs in the state that was started with much enthusiasm during his address in the foundation stone lying ceremony of Jang-e-Azadi memorial on Sunday.
He had also sought the resignation of SAD’s Chief Parliamentary Secretary Avinash Chander’s resignation for his alleged involvement in the infamous multi-crore drug case. Justifying his demand, Sharma said: “Sarwan Singh Phillaur resigned from the Minister’s post after his son was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). As now, the ED is questioning Avinash Chander, why the Chief Minister has not asked for his resignation.”
The saffron brigade has now chalked out a strategy to renew its position in the alliance. To begin with, it has decided to take up all the pending issues pointed in the Tandon Committee report following the alliance’s not-so-good performance in the 2014 general elections. For the purpose, the party would convene a joint meeting with the SAD sometime after Diwali. As of now, the SAD-BJP’s six-member joint coordination committee has resolved the issue of property tax by rationalizing the same.
The combine’s defeat on seven seats out total 13 in Punjab ensued in a blame-game with the BJP pointing out SAD’s “wrong decisions” on imposing taxes including property tax and taxes on trading community, high prices of sand and gravel besides its unavailability, deteriorating law and order situation, and above all, the growing drug menace for the poor show.
BJP’s fact-finding panel, headed by its senior leader Balram Ji Dass Tandon — now Chhattisgarh Governor, had listed these factors besides delay in VAT refunds, problems faced by industry and trade sector, stamp duty, coupled with burden on urban voters of power subsidy, among others as issues that led to loss of seven seats in the general elections.
“We would soon meet the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take up all these matters and for their early redressal,” said Sharma. Other than raising the pending issues, the BJP is also gearing up to seek “larger” share in the ensuing civic body polls in the state, scheduled to be held in November-December. BJP has also made it clear that it would contest the municipal polls on its party symbol — lotus.
“There was no fixed ratio of seat sharing between us…some new municipalities have been formed, while some new wards have also been added after delimitation…so the two parties would meet soon and decide upon the candidates and seat share by convening a coordination committee’s meeting,” said Sharma.