Clear majority to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the neighbouring State of Haryana has sent alarm bells ringing in the Shiromani Akali Dal camp in Punjab. The win comes at a time when the SAD-BJP relationship is at its nadir and the future of the alliance between the two parties is not just a matter of speculation but also debate.
Even as the BJP high command had recently assured the SAD of continuation of the alliance in Punjab, the saffron brigade’s solo victory in Haryana has sent a clear signal to the Akalis that contesting elections alone in Punjab may not be a distant reality for the coalition partner, after all.
Emerging as a single largest party in Haryana for the first time ever, where it has never contested more than 26 seats, BJP’s success is expected to make its ally, SAD, a bit apprehensive.
It is believed that with the BJP’s gamble of going it alone for the polls paying off in Haryana and also in Maharashtra, it is expected to have a bearing on political equations in Punjab where it is becoming assertive and going vocal against SAD. What is more, the people’s growing disillusionment with the SAD in the state is also making the BJP a little edgy.
In the recent past, the BJP leaders have started talking tough on various issues related to governance. Moreover, it has now asserting more pressure in demanding an equal say in the government functioning.
Not to forget the time-to-time outbursts by the senior BJP leaders and the cabinet ministers against the SAD for taking significant decisions on their own and without consulting their alliance partners.
To top it all! BJP-led Central Government’s denial to the special financial package to Punjab, followed by a snub from the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for doling out more “grants” to the state has upset the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the entire SAD camp.
Relation between the two hit a rough patch following coalition’s loss on seven out of the total 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab during 2014 general elections. BJP minced no words to blame its alliance partner for the alliance’s poor performance in Punjab at a time when Modi wave swept across the nation.
BJP leaders and ministers started coming out in public against the SAD criticising and opposing their decisions and policies, forcing it to remind the alliance partner of the coalition dharma.
What makes the things worse was the SAD’s decision to support INlD in Haryana while retaining its alliance with the BJP in Punjab and at the Centre — something that did not go down well with the BJP.
Coming into an aggressive mode against SAD, the BJP contested elections as if they are the arch rivals. BJP specially deputed cricketer-turned-politician and three-time Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu to campaign in Haryana.
Sidhu, entering in a no-holds-barred match, had targeted the Badals and the SAD, while dubbing them as “backstabbers”. He openly attacked the SAD while alleging it of mafia raj, open loot and the police having been turned into private militia.
Apprehending BJP’s move to snap ties with it, the SAD took up the matter with the BJP to sort out the points of difference between the two. It is believed that Badal bahu Harsimrat Kaur, the Union Food Processing Minister, met senior BJP leader and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley apprising him about the rumours that BJP was gearing up to break ties with the SAD in Punjab.
Responding, the BJP leader assured the SAD of continuing with the decade-long relationship with the party in Punjab. It has been learnt that Jaitley himself called up the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to assure that SAD-BJP ties would remain strong as ever.
As of now, the BJP has 12 seats in the 117-member assembly against the SAD’s 57 which is just two short of the majority.
It is believed that the party may now ask for more powers and representation in government machinery, besides having more say in government’s functioning. The effect of today’s result is expected to be seen during the ensuing civic body polls in the State.