Ahead of key state polls, Cong’s Gurdaspur win sends big message to BJP

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Assembly elections in the key states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the Gurdaspur byelection result in favour of the Congress party sends a big message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP government at the Centre.

Congress leader Sunil Jakhar with Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu after the former won Gurdaspur Lok Sabha by election on Sunday. Tribune photo

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 15

Ahead of the Assembly elections in the key states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the Gurdaspur byelection result in favour of the Congress party sends a big message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP government at the Centre.

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As an initial “unofficial” reaction, BJP leaders attributed the setback in the constituency that BJP had held before this to “local factors”, although they agreed that elections to a Lok Sabha seat is more reflective of the national mood — in other words the Centre and its policies.

Read: Sunil Jakhar wins Gurdaspur Lok Sabha byelection with huge margin

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Several state BJP leaders also blame the controversy surrounding former SAD minister Sucha Singh Langah, and point out central leadership chose Swarnn Salaria to fight the elections for his “resources”, overlooking “legitimate” claims of late Vinod Khanna’s wife Kavita Khanna. Added to the issue were the economic and other factors, they say.

However, observers believe it is time that the BJP leadership stopped taking for granted its supporters, who now seem to be reacting to its decisions and prevailing economic situation, jobless growth and agricultural distress — among other things — by voting against the party.

The Congress in power in Punjab may have contributed to Sunil Jhakkar’s win but the fact that it was a constituency Khanna won in 2014 even when BJP’s top leader Arun Jaitley lost Amritsar was telling of the prevailing mood on the ground, they say.

For its prospects in Punjab in particular, the huge victory margin is a clear indication that BJP's alliance with the Akalis is "no longer viable or favourable". The humiliating defeat is expected to increase the clamour in the state leadership for a divorce from the old ally.

For its prospects in Punjab in particular, the huge margin is a clear indication that its alliance with the Akalis is no longer viable or favourable. The humiliating defeat is expected to increase the clamour in the state leadership for a divorce from the old ally.