Divorce SAD, pleads BJP’s youth brigade

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 3

Most of the BJP district youth presidents and officer-bearers, at a state-level meeting, today reiterated that the party must snap its alliance with the SAD.

The young leaders mentioned a number of incidents during the recently held civic elections where BJP workers were “bullied” by Akali activists.

State unit president Kamal Sharma will meet senior leaders here tomorrow and analyse the party’s performance in the recent civic elections.

Sources said some Yuva Morcha leaders wanted the party to go it alone during the next Assembly poll.

They want the process for shortlisting candidates for all 117 seats be started as early as possible.

When approached, Mohit Gupta, state BJP Yuva Morcha president, declined to comment on the matter.

He said the BJP had enrolled 13 lakh members in Punjab and their aim was to cross the 16 lakh mark. “Since 2011, the party strength has increased to about 3 lakh. We have devised a strategy under which the membership drive will be conducted zone-wise,” he said. He said the party would focus on colleges and universities in Majha on March 11, 12 and 13, those in Doaba on March 14, 16, 17 and 18 and those in Malwa on 19, 20 and 21.

Young BJP leaders reportedly told their seniors in the party that Manish Parthi of Bathinda was beaten up outside a polling booth but no case was registered against Akali leaders responsible for the assault.

They also spoke about the “murderous attack” on Raja Joshi, brother of Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi, at Tarn Taran.