Sampla in line of fire over rout

Sanjeev Singh Bariana and Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh/Jalandhar, MarCH 14

At least three former presidents of the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and several senior leaders have alleged the failure of state chief Vijay Sampla in taking them along as a team during the state Assembly elections. The party bagged just three of the 23 seats it contested.

Not wishing to be named, at least former presidents said due to “lack of experience, the current leadership could not deliver. Senior leaders were not roped in for the campaign. Our own workers worked against us at many places”.

Another senior leader said: “The present leadership has a prejudiced view. Even the choice of candidates was biased.”

Former state president Madan Mohan Mittal said: “As an alliance partner, we had to take the load of public dissatisfaction over the SAD’s performance. We did a lot of public work, but people believed in the baseless charge of state’s failure in controlling drugs.”

Phagwara legislator Som Parkash said: “The party functioning needs a serious review. We shall point out all reasons for the party’s debacle.”

Former state party chief Manoranjan Kalia said: “It is pointless to point fingers at anyone. We will sit together to analyse the performance.”

Phagwara Mayor Arun Khosla said: “The party president should have taken moral responsibility of the party’s poor performance and resigned by now. Everyone in Phagwara knows that almost all office-bearers appointed by Sampla had openly opposed Som Parkash during the elections. They all supported the Congress candidate.”

Tikshan Sud, who lost from Hoshiarpur for the second time, too seemed upset. “So far, we have not got a platform for the redressal of our concerns. Even the high command is busy with matters related to other states. We will seek changes at an appropriate time.”