BJP may name six candidates today

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 14

The BJP leadership has reportedly resolved “issues” surrounding candidates on the six remaining constituencies from its quota of 23. The aim is to hold on to its limited turf in the state and somehow better its 2012 tally of 12 MLAs.

Tomorrow when the party’s CEC meets to finalise the names of candidates for Uttar radesh and Uttarakhand, BJP chief Amit Shah is also expected to remove suspense over the six constituencies.

Shah may publicly have passed on the ball (strategising for Punjab elections) in the court of the SAD, but there are worries in the BJP over Punjab coalition’s anti-incumbency of 10 years and “negative perceptions” surrounding the ally.

Defending the decision, BJP leaders say Akalis have remained with them through thick and thin. The state, they say, needs a stable government with a mutual understanding with the Centre. “But if we independently manage to get more than 12 seats and better our last time’s tally, several options will open for us in 2022. But for 2017, this is the best option,” they say.

Among the six seats held back, four are represented by ministers. Two are above 75 years and do not meet the age-limit criteria set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But the PM’s other directive — against party-men lobbying for relatives for poll tickets — is also believed to be the cause of heartburn for those seeking a favour in the state.

Party manifesto to be out by January 17

New Delhi: BJP’s poll manifesto for Punjab will be out by January 17. This was stated by Union Rural Development Minister and BJP’s Punjab election incharge Narendra Singh Tomar here. He said that the Akali-BJP alliance would score a hat-trick by winning these elections. “The manifesto is being given final touches,” Tomar said. He said that the manifesto would be “inclusive” in scope. It would incorporate development works of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre and the Akali-BJP dispensation in the state. “The BJP’s electoral pitch for the Punjab elections will revolve around development,” he added. Every village has been linked by road and the power situation has improved greatly during the Akali-BJP regime in comparison with the previous Congress government in the state, he claimed. He rejected allegations that a section of Akali leaders was patronising drug culture.  Ravi Singh