Rift in Haryana casting its shadow on SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab

All issues concerning bypolls will come up for discussion at a meeting on October 5. SHWAIT MALIK, state BJP chief

CHANDIGARH: The war of words between leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the BJP over their rift in Haryana has started casting its shadow over their alliance in Punjab prompting the two parties to call a meeting of the co-ordination committee in Jalandhar on October 5.

Dubbing the meeting as a routine affair, SAD spokesperson Daljeet Singh Cheema claimed it has been called to prepare a joint strategy for the bypolls. However, senior SAD leaders told HT that the party was upset over the statements being made by Punjab BJP leaders against the SAD.

The Akali leadership, it is learnt, has taken strong exception to a statement by former BJP general secretary Harjeet Grewal over leadership qualities of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal during a TV debate.

He added, “On Tuesday, SAD claimed that by making a BJP aspirant from Kalanwali seat of Haryana to join their fold, it has settled the score for our party’s move to induct the sole SAD MLA from Haryana (from Kalanwali) into BJP.”

MITTAL’S DEMAND FOR 50% SEATS FOR BJP

The recent statement of former state BJP chief Madan Mohan Mittal that the party should be given at least 50% seats in Punjab has also added to the tension.

“Our workers say that we should contest on at least 50% seats in the state. SAD should not get fussy about Haryana as BJP never had alliance with them in the state. In the LS polls, SAD itself had announced supporting the BJP in Haryana,” said Mittal. A former Akali minister told HT, “We have told the Punjab BJP leadership to stop leaders from making statements against SAD leadership. The issue will be discussed in the co-ordination meeting. In the bypolls, they need us more in Phagwara and Mukerian than we need them in Dakha and Jalalabad.”

The BJP is upset with the SAD cadre’s absence from electioneering in Phagwara and Mukerian. The party is also peeved at a SAD councillor from Phagwara filing his nomination as an independent.

State BJP chief Shwait Malik said, “As far as the issue of SAD councillor filing his nomination as independent is concerned, it is SAD’S duty to ask him to withdraw. Our coalition is intact.”