After axing the three contentious farm laws, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ploughing new grounds to grow a stronger base in Punjab. Virtually pushed to the wall over the issue of farm laws in Punjab, the saffron party has now started making its presence felt in the State with several prominent Sikh faces shifting their loyalties towards the BJP.
Several prominent Sikh personalities are jumping in the BJP’s bandwagon after the Centre decided to repeal the controversial agriculture acts. Punjab’s former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh is already eyeing a tie-up with the BJP for the ensuing 2022 elections. In fact, he has even predicted the “victory” of the alliance of his new political party, Punjab Lok Congress, BJP, and the SAD Samyukt — a breakaway Akali faction.
Ahead of the scheduled meeting between Capt Amarinder and BJP’s national president JP Nadda on Saturday, the saffron party is fortifying its house in the State. Days after senior Akali leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s induction in the party, Punjab’s former top cop SS Virk, senior SAD leader Sarabjit Singh Makkar, and 22 other prominent Sikh personalities joined the saffron brigade.
The party claimed that many more prominent faces would be joining in the coming days.
It is believed that by inducting several faces ahead of the much-talked about meeting between Capt Amarinder and Nadda, the BJP is sending across a message to the former Chief Minister that it was not in a weak position, as was presumed, while negotiating the terms and conditions of the proposed alliance.
At the same time, by engineering several joinings and defections, the BJP is trying to build a positive image among the voters and perception in favour of the party.
Besides, the strong, and known leaders from other political parties, and prominent faces will held the party in strengthening its organisation at the grassroots, especially after severing ties with its decades-old ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Notably, SAD had parted ways with the BJP over the issue of farm laws, and forged a pre-poll alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). After the farm laws were repealed, the Akali Dal categorically refused to restore the alliance.
However, the BJP retorted by poaching SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s close associates — Sirsa, who was Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president; and his former OSD Parminder Singh Brar. On Friday, former SAD MLA Sarabjit Singh Makkar also joined the BJP.
Other than him, Punjab’s former DGP Sarbdeep Singh Virk, former chairman of Punjab Cooperative Bank Avtar Singh Zira, industrialist Harcharan Singh Ranauta, and other personalities from Punjab joined the saffron party.
Earlier, on August 2, five SAD leaders including former national general secretary of Akali Dal’s women wing Amanjot Kaur Ramoowalia, and SAD leaders Gurpreet Singh Shahpur, Chand Singh Chatha, Baljinder Singh Dakoha and Pritam Singh had joined the BJP.
In June, six prominent personalities including Harinder Singh Kahlon, Jagmohan Singh Saini, Nirmal Singh, Kuldeep Singh Kahlon, Jaswinder Singh Dhillon and Jaibans Singh had joined the saffron party.
BACK IN GAME
BJP, after repealing the farm laws, is, it seems, back in Punjab’s electoral game. Considered to be completely ‘out of contest’ about a month back, the saffron party has made it clear that it was not giving up, and in fact, it is going to give a tough contest to its opponents. Sources have informed The Pioneer that the BJP has tasked its several leaders to identify the disgruntled, dissatisfied, and probable leaders, and woo them into the party.
Primarily having strong base amongst the Hindu voters, the BJP, this time, has changed its strategy and is wooing the Sikh community, especially after breaking of ties with the Akali Dal, along with Hindus and the Dalit community. It has been learnt that BJP leaders are in contact with senior Akali leader and former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra.
