In an attempt to cement the ties with BJP in next year's assembly polls, Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal on Monday met Union Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley in Delhi.
Senior leaders of BJP including cabinet ministers in the state were also present in the meet. The meeting comes in the wake of demands from a section of the BJP to go it alone in the polls to counter anti incumbency against the ruling SAD-BJP combine.
This is the second time, when a senior leader of BJP had interacted with SAD President within a fortnight. The meeting was called to address the grievances of the BJP leaders. Sources say that Jaitley in his firm message to SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal has said that it was SAD president’s responsibility to make the things easy for the alliance partner.
Sources say that Jaitley has asked Sukhbir Singh Badal to ensure that the BJP workers at the grass root level did not feel neglected. He has insisted for strengthening of the coordination committees.
The issue of undue interference of SAD leader in the departments of BJP ministers is also learnt to have been raised by the BJP ministers.
SAD president is also reported to have raised objection on the propaganda by the BJP leaders of separating before the assembly polls. Sources say that Sukhbir Badal said that such a propaganda is hampering the chances of the alliance in the next elections.
It is learnt that while BJP top brass was keen to continue with the alliance in Punjab, a section of the the party leadership in the state is insisting for broadening the base of the party by going alone in the assembly polls slated next year.
All the four ministers Madan Mohan Mittal, Anil Joshi, Surjeet Jyani and Chunni lal Bhagat were present in the meeting.
BJP state party chief Kamal Sharma, National Secretary Tarun Chugh, Ashwani Sharma, Avinash Rai Khanna and Dinesh Kumar are also reported to have participated in the dialogue. SAD president accompanied Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Gujral.