The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants lion’s share in the seats for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Punjab. After playing the second fiddle for decades with its erstwhile alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the saffron party is now gearing up to act like a “big brother” with the broken factions of the Congress and the Akali Dal.
The maharaja of Patiala, Capt Amarinder Singh, may be projecting himself as the king of Punjab politics, but the BJP is all set to relegate him to the second position in its alliance by offering just about 30-35 seats, and keeping about 70, of the total 117, with it.
And to boost the party’s campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will sound the poll bugle for the ensuing Assembly polls elections in Punjab by addressing a mega rally in the New Year.
Even as the talks of seat sharing arrangement is on between the BJP and Capt Amarinder’s new political outfit, Punjab Lok Congress, it has been learnt that the saffron party wanted to contest on 70-plus seats. Moreover, the 10-15 seats have reportedly been left for the Akali stalwart Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa’s SAD (Sanyukta), which is yet to formally announce being the part of the BJP-led coalition.
The BJP has been contesting elections in Punjab for decades in alliance with the State’s regional party, the SAD, by playing a role of the junior partner. Of the total 117 Assembly seats, the BJP contested on just 23, while the SAD fielded its candidates on the remaining 94.