BJP top brass' absence in Sangrur may hurt nominees

Parvesh Sharma

Sangrur, February 17

The absence of central BJP leaders in farmers’ stronghold Sangrur district may create more problems for the party candidates here.

The Congress and AAP have gone all out against their rivals in the area. To date, Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kumari Selja, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Sachin Pilot, Charanjit Channi and Navjot Sidhu among others have visited various parts of the district.

From the AAP, its national convener Arvind Kejriwal, his wife Sunita Kejriwal and daughter Harshita Kejriwal among other senior leaders have visited the Dhuri constituency of Sangrur to support party’s CM face and local candidate Bhagwant Mann.

However, only a few BJP leaders have visited Sangrur so far. Though the BJP leaders have been denying, but the anger among farmers against the party seems to be the reason behind the absence of central leadership in Sangrur. The district is a stronghold of farmer unions, which are still protesting against the central BJP government for failing to fulfil their accepted demands.

“The BJP government at the Centre has still not fulfilled many of our accepted demands, including the cancellation of FIRs registered against farmers and financial compensation to the families of those who died during the yearlong agitation. We are opposing the BJP candidates. In Sangrur, no central BJP leaders are coming as they are aware that we will oppose them,” said Amrik Singh, Sangrur, district president, BKU Ugrahan.

Party already strong in district

Central ministers or leaders aren’t visiting Sangrur as the BJP already has a strong hold here. After the laws were repealed, farmers don’t have any issues with us. Jatinder Kalra, bjp leader