CHANDIGARH, Punjab—The central BJP leadership is reportedly unhappy over the decision of the Shiromani Akali Dal to campaign in favor of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). The move allegedly goes against interests of Akali Dal’s senior NDA ally. BJP leaders have made harsh reactions over the announcement made by INLD MP Dushyant Chotala that Parkash Badal would be their “star campaigner.” BJP wants Badal to stay away from the campaign.
“We have told our central leadership to resolve the issue. We want Badal to stop from campaigning for the INLD and he should not come to Haryana to seek votes for INLD,” said the Haryana BJP’s legislature party leader and Ambala MLA, Anil Vij.
Vij said that “we have put our point before our central leaders and now it is up to them to resolve the matter”.
Though Kailash Vijayvargiya, newly appointed, and in charge of Haryana BJP unit, refused to comment on the issue, the party sources said the senior party leadership was in the midst of devising a strategy to tackle the critical situation.
The BJP leaders also deny having reached any behind-the-scene understanding with the INLD on some seats, adding that BJP president Amit Shah may issue a statement to ease the confusion on the matter among the BJP cadres in the state.
Though senior BJP leaders say their understanding with the Akali Dal is only for Punjab and how their Punjab ally chooses to treat Haryana elections is its own prerogative, they admit that opening of a separate INLD-Akali Dal front means an additional challenge for the saffron party.
“Akali leaders canvassed in favor of the INLD in the Lok Sabha elections as well. At that time BJP leaders also had protested. However, dynamics in the national elections is vastly different from the state-level elections,” the BJP leaders added.
