Deserted by its decades-old ally in Punjab on the farmers’ issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is strengthening its foothold on the State’s political turf ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls. Amidst vociferous protests by the farmers across Punjab, BJP’s national president Jagat Prakash Nadda is set to undertake a three-day State tour to galvanize the party cadre.
In an apparent attempt to expand its base in the State with a sole aim of preparing for contesting next assembly polls alone, the saffron brigade is setting up its 10 district level offices, besides strengthening no less than 23,000 polling booths across the state by mobilizing BJP cadre at the grassroot level.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), in September, ended its 24-year-old association with the BJP on the issue of Centre’s three ‘controversial” farm bills — leaving in lurch the saffron party which has a limited presence in the State. Even as the BJP leaders have all along been demanding to axe ties with the Akali Dal and test the state’s political waters on its own, the sudden break-up that too at the time of farmers’ protest, has only increased troubles for the BJP.
In the state, mainly represented by the agriculturists, the issue of farm bills is set to dominate in the next polls, as all the political parties have already giving enough indications for the same.
And with the BJP’s ‘anti-farmer’ image, coupled with increasing criticism on several issues, over a period of time, the road to power would not be a cakewalk for the saffron party. Notably, the farmers have been staging protest against the state BJP leaders, gheraoing their residences.
Even as the state party leaders are seeing the breakup as a ‘silver lining’, expanding its base in the agriculture and rural dominated state and a chief ministerial face would be major challenges for the party.
Jumping into a troubleshoot mode, the BJP has now decided to expand its base in the State, venturing into the territories the party has not yet explored, including farmers, rural areas.
The party enjoys considerable support among the traders and urban populace.
In a first step towards the same, BJP national president Nadda would virtually inaugurate 10 district level offices on November 19, which will be followed by his three-day state tour.
“BJP national president JP Nadda would virtually inaugurate 10 district offices of the party on November 19 and thereafter would soon undertake a three days’ tour to the State to take stock of the preparations and to galvanize the party workers for the forthcoming assembly battle,” said BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh.
He said that the party leaders, led by state president Ashwani Sharma, would popularize 160 public welfare schemes launched by the Narendra Modi Government in Punjab and apprise the people of the progress made on them in the State.
“BJP has started its preparations on a war footing to contest all the 117 Vidhan Sabha seats in 2022 elections,” said Chugh.
Notably, three Union Ministers — Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Industry Som Prakash — had recently met the representatives of the protesting farmers’ unions.
Despite holding discussions for seven-long-hours, the meeting ended with no outcome.
CONGRESS MP ANNOUNCES PROTEST AGAINST NADDA
Congress MP from Ludhiana Ravneet Singh Bittu on Monday announced to protest against the BJP national president JP Nadda as and when he comes to Punjab.
Bittu on Monday took to Twitter to announce his decision to protest against Nadda along with Punjabi farmers, arhtiyas (commission agents), and mazdoors (farm labourers) as and when he enters Punjab.“BJP's India President JP Nadda has announced a 3 day visit to Punjab.
I hereby announce that I will personally protest against him along with our Punjabi Farmers, Arthiyas & Mazdoors, if and when he dares to enter Punjab,” Bittu tweeted.