No break-up, SAD and BJP together

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 9

A day after allies complained of “lack of coordination” in the NDA coalition, BJP president Amit Shah today held separate meetings with Akali Dal and TDP leaders to discuss individual issues. With Akalis in particular, Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also discussed the strategy for the 2017 Assembly polls in Punjab, including seat-sharing, thus putting to an end all speculations of a break-up in the partnership. 

“We had a cordial meeting to strategise for the elections. To ensure there is no friction at the ground level of any kind, a coordination committee will be formed which will have leaders from both sides. They will meet at regular intervals,” Akali leader Naresh Gujral said. 

This is the first time since coming to power in 2014 that the saffron leadership made the effort of interacting with senior functionaries of alliance partners. Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal is also believed to have raised the tension caused in the alliance due to “provocative statements by certain BJP leaders”.

Shah too is believed to have apprised Sukhbir with issues communicated to him by his party’s state unit. “Allying with Akalis is a burden for the BJP because issues like corruption, drugs and farmers’ suicides. 

Besides, the BJP is facing serious power-sharing issues with the Akalis. Their workers are interfering in the functioning of BJP cadres and the Akali Dal is not taking the saffron party seriously,” BJP leaders say.

Majority of BJP’s Punjab leaders at their meeting with Shah had advocated going it alone in 2017 and if required an alliance after the polls to escape anti-incumbency. However, party sources say, the central leadership is in favour of keeping the oldest ally by its side for practical reasons. “In Punjab. the BJP has no base in rural areas. Besides, what is the point of dividing the vote base and giving Congress and AAP an advantage?” they argue. “No immediate change was expected in the relationship between the Akali Dal and the BJP despite public posturing on both sides,” they say.