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  India   BJP to take call on Punjab tieup

BJP to take call on Punjab tieup

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Feb 10, 2016, 11:43 pm IST
Updated : Feb 10, 2016, 11:43 pm IST

A day after SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal announced that the SAD-BJP alliance will remain intact, the BJP on Wednesday said the final call on the issue will be taken by its high command.

A day after SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal announced that the SAD-BJP alliance will remain intact, the BJP on Wednesday said the final call on the issue will be taken by its high command.

There is growing resentment within the BJP over continuing the alliance with the Badal-led SAD in Punjab where Assembly elections are scheduled early next year. The BJP also asserted that the seat-sharing formula for the Assembly elections also has not been finalised. Mr Badal had claimed that the existing seat-sharing formula would continue for the next Assembly elections. The SAD-BJP coalition government has been ruling the state since 2007.

“Our leaders from Punjab have discussed issues with the Central leadership. A final decision will be taken by our top brass,” said senior BJP leader and party Punjab in-charge Prabhat Jha when asked to comment on Mr Badal’s statement. A majority section within the BJP wants to snap ties with the SAD, which they feel is suffering from strong anti-incumbency and facing various corruption charges.

Mr Badal, along with senior SAD leaders Naresh Gujaral and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, had held a meeting with BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday. State-related issues along with the BJP-led NDA’s strategies for the coming Budget Session of Parliament were also discussed. Some of the BJP allies, including the SAD, had raised concerns over lack of coordination and the communication gap between the NDA allies.

Sources disclosed that Punjab BJP leaders had apprised the central leadership about the pros and cons of continuing the alliance in Punjab at a time when the Opposition Congress’ graph seems to be on an upward swing. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP, which has currently four MPs from the state, is also seen by many in the state as a strong alternative.

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi