Amid backlash from farmers, BJP fielding Sikhs faces in MC polls

CHANDIGARH: Amid the widespread perception that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing a boycott in Sikh-dominated areas of Punjab due to the farm stir, the saffron party has fielded Sikh faces for the civic body polls to be held on February 14.

The party says that it will field at least 20% candidates from Sikh background in the polls, the last date of filing nomination for which is February 3.

In the Bathinda municipal corporation, for which the BJP is contesting on all 50 seats for the first time, the party has declared Sikh candidates on six seats of 35 declared.

For over two decades, the BJP’s former alliance partner, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), was the dominant partner in this heartland of farmers.

BJP’s in-charge for Bathinda and former minister Manoranjan Kalia claimed that the party did not have any dearth of Sikh candidates.

“In Bathinda, the real challenge was to field good faces on all seats, as our alliance partner SAD left us just a couple of months ago. We have done,”

Kalia claimed.

One of the party’s Sikh candidates, Kulwant Poohla, fielded from ward number 6, said there was pressure from the community and friends not to contest from the BJP.

“The Centre should listen to farmers. I am contesting from the BJP, as the party has always given me respect, since I joined it 13 years ago,” said Poohla.

In the Mohali MC, four of 29 candidates announced are Sikhs.

“For 50 seats, we have received 20 applications from those with Sikh background,” said party’s in-charge and former MLA, KD Bhandari. During the previous civic body polls in Mohali, BJP was allotted 18 seats in alliance with SAD, but the party contested on 11 seats, of which it won six.

In Moga MC, the city area is dominated by the Hindu community, but the party has received nine applications from Sikh faces, according to party sources. Candidates will be declared on Sunday.

A senior party functionary added that the party was facing problem in attracting new faces due to the farm stir. He added that those who have applied for tickets are old faces.

“A loyal support base and the ability to win are factors that go into giving a ticket. A false narrative is being propagated that Sikhs are boycotting us. The reality is that they are applying for party tickets in greater number than before. Civic body results will counter this narrative,” said party’s general secretary, Subhash Sharma.

A senior party functionary added that this was for the first time that the Punjab affairs in-charge was discussing every ticket of civic body with in-charges of that area.

Party in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP, Dushyant Gautam, has been camping in Chandigarh for the past three days.

He will be shifting to Ludhiana, where the party has set up its headquarters for these polls.

PARTY SAYS IT WILL FIELD AT LEAST 20% CANDIDATES FROM SIKH BACKGROUND, LAST DATE OF NOMINATION IS FEBRUARY 3