SAD says alliance ‘rock solid’ after Shah meeting
CHANDIGARH: Alliance partners Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday signalled there were no discordant notes in their partnership, as both sides affirmed that their commitment to staying allies was “rock solid”. They even announced a six-member coordination committee to work out electoral issues and future strategy.
Soon after his meeting with the SAD leadership, including party patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, BJP chief Amit Shah in a tweet indicated the meeting with the SAD ahead of the crucial 2019 general elections was off to a good start. “It is always a delight to meet Badal Sahab. Met Shri Parkash Singh Badal ji and Shri @officeofssbadal ji at their home in Chandigarh,” he tweeted. Shah’s tweet was in contrast to the one he put out on Wednesday after a closed-door meeting with the Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai, details of which are still under wraps.
The BJP is grappling with the growing echo of discontent from its other allies, such the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RSLP) and the Janata Dal (United). At this juncture, former Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal gave it a helping hand by asking the other alliance partners to bury their differences.
“I would like to appeal to all our allies that this is the time to fight; the battle’s in six months. We should get together and cast away all our differences,” Sukhbir said when asked about the concerns voiced by the Shiv Sena.
Two senior leaders of the party, Rajya Sabha member Balwinder Bhundar and former minister Sikander Maluka, who had earlier accused the BJP of ignoring the SAD in last four years at the Centre, chose not to raise the issue at the meeting with Shah, people aware of the developments said. The SAD leaders who were part of the meeting claimed that Shah came to Chandigarh to take “guidance” from the senior Badal.
“Parkash Singh Badal-ji is country’s most tallest and pious leaders. He is guiding force for the NDA and I have come here to consult him on various issues concerning Centre and the farmers,” Shah told leaders of both parties, according to SAD core group member Bikram Majithia who was also in the meeting.