CHANDIGARH: It seems there is no end to the rift between Punjab’s ruling partners. This time, the candidate selection for the February 13 Khadoor Sahib Assembly by-election has threatened the poll prospects of the alliance, with the BJP expressing displeasure over the Shiromani Akali Dal’s choice. Stepping up the attack, Navreet Singh Shafipur, Tarantarn district president of the BJP, said, “We will campaign against SAD candidate Ravinder Singh Brahmpura and expose the Akalis.’’
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The Congress and AAP have already boycotted the polls and there are only independent candidates in the fray. The seat fell vacant after the sitting Congress MLA resigned last year.
Sources said that differences between the alliance partners emerged after Raja Joshi, a district functionary of the BJP and younger brother of Punjab Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi, was allegedly thrashed by SAD workers last year. Meanwhile, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal has visited Khadoor Sahib to woo the voters. Tarun Chugh, national secretary of the BJP, said, “The local leaders have some genuine issues which need to be resolved.” Earlier, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had expressed similar view on his recent two-day Amritsar visit. The minister had said that the Akalis should listen to the BJP leaders.
The SAD has also targeted the BJP-led Central government for not including the Sikh Regiment at the Republic Day parade. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling the incident as “sad and regrettable”. Badal said that act has “hurt the feeling of the people of the state”. He urged the PM to ensure such things never happen in future. Akalis are also likely to raise the issue in the upcoming Parliament session. The BJP, however, has asked the SAD not to politicise the issue. Kamal Sharma, state BJP president, said, “It was unfortunate that politicians were trying to give a political colour to the matter. It would be wrong to say that the Sikh Regiment was excluded as the unit of Sikh Light Regimental Centre participated as a part of a musical band in the parade.’’
A delegation of SAD MPs, led by Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh last week to express displeasure over the statement of the Rijiju, who had termed Punjab as a disturbed state.