SAD image to blame for bypoll loss: BJP leaders

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 22

While reviewing the defeat in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha byelection, the BJP leadership found that it was due to the fact that “the people of Punjab have not yet forgiven the SAD”.

A review meeting was held here today under the chairmanship of state president Vijay Sampla. More than 20 core group members, former state presidents and former ministers were present.

Party sources said the view of holding SAD responsible for the defeat was first expressed by a former cabinet minister who also served as the state party president for several years. He said the defeat margin in SAD stronghold was much higher than in BJP-dominated areas.

“Almost everybody present in the meeting agreed to the point that in past six months, not much has changed in the people’s perception about the Akali Dal,” said a former state BJP president. He said it seemed that the people had not yet forgiven the SAD for its acts during the 10-year rule. The view was later vouched by the state BJP leadership.

Sources said a former BJP minister from Majha even went on to this extent of saying that the SAD “has become a liability for the BJP in Punjab and it is time to shed that liability”.

Another reason attributed to the defeat was the Congress government’s alleged politics of threat. During a press conference, Sampla said they had reached the conclusion that the main reason for their defeat was the “politics of threat followed by the Congress”. He alleged that even the polling agents were threatened and many didn’t turn up for duty. “The Congress did not have anything to show in terms of performance, so it resorted to pressure tactics,” he alleged.