Amidst speculation that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could snap ties with its age-old alliance partner — the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday said that the Akali Dal would remain an integral part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
“The ties between the SAD, the BJP and the NDA are time-tested,” said Badal, while interacting with mediapersons on the sidelines of State-level function to mark Vishwakarma Day.
“I have dedicated my entire life while struggling to safeguard the interests of Punjab and Punjabis…It was during this struggle that the ties of SAD with the NDA in general and the BJP in particular were firmed up.
“SAD-BJP alliance is everlasting and the two parties should not be seen as different from each other. The tried and tested alliance between both the parties is a unique phenomenon of the Indian democratic system, which has passed every litmus test in last few decades,” Badal said while responding to the queries whether there was strain in ties between the two alliance partners.
He added, the relationship between the two alliance partners was “very strong, impeccable and cordial because it has been time and again cemented with mutual affection and understanding.”
Positive results to the saffron party’s decision to went for Assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra sans its alliance partners has sent alarm bells ringing in the SAD camp in Punjab. Even after the BJP high command had assured the SAD leadership against any such move, their apprehension is beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Their relationship turned bitter after the senior BJP leader and Amritsar’s former MP, Navjot Singh Sidhu assailed the SAD for siding with the Indian National lok Dal (INlD) in the recent Haryana Assembly polls and campaigning against the BJP.
SAD and BJP have been running a coalition Government in Punjab since 2007, while their alliance is more than two-decade old.
BJP, ahead Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly polls held on October 15, had snapped its ties with the Haryana Janhit Congress and Shiv Sena respectively. The party has received clear majority in Haryana, while it has emerged out to be the largest party in Maha.
Expressing hope that the BJP and Shiv Sena would form the next Government in Maharashtra respecting people’s verdict, Badal said that both these parties were having similar ideology and they would certainly join their hands to form the Government.
Badal, replying to another query, said that if extended an invitation, he would surely attend the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister designate of Haryana Manohar lal Khattar.
Chief Minister, addressing the gathering on the occasion of ‘Vishkarma Day’, impressed upon the industrialists to make a solemn pledge of making whole hearted efforts for promoting skill training as it would be real tribute to lord Vishwakarma.
“It would not only help in generating employment for the youth but would also play a pivotal role in putting the state on high growth trajectory,” he said after felicitating 41 industrialists.