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BJP says people to decide on Sukhbir’s elevation as CM

Chandigarh: The BJP on Wednesday said any question of possible elevation of acting Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal to the post of Punjab Chief Minister should be decided by the people of the State.

“It is for the people of Punjab to decide on this issue,” Balbir Punj, in-charge of party’s affairs in Punjab, told reporters here.

He, however, added the party had not received any world from its senior partner SAD in this regard.

Asked how the BJP viewed Sukhbir as Chief Ministerial candidate, he said: “It is entirely up to the people to judge.”

Whenever SAD takes a decision on promoting Sukhbir as Chief Minister, the BJP would take a decision on the matter at that time, Mr. Punj said after a meeting of the working committee of party’s State unit. To a question, Mr. Punj ruled out the possibility of a BJP Chief Minister in the State in the near future.

On BJP’s demand for the post of Deputy Chief Minister, he said, “it is not an issue for the party now.”

“The prime concern of the party at present is financial health, growth and development of Punjab,” he said.

Punjab BJP chief Rajender Bhandari, who favoured the post of Deputy Chief Minister for the party, sidestepped a question on whether he agreed with Mr. Punj on this issue. He rubbished reports that Sukhbir Singh Badal was interfering in the functioning of the State Government.

“So far, no BJP Minister has made any complaint about interference by Sukhbir in functioning of their departments,” he said.

Elaborating on the meeting of the working committee, Mr. Bhandari said the party was satisfied with the performance of the SAD-BJP government in Punjab.

“The SAD, the dominant party, is taking BJP into confidence and giving it due importance on all issues,” he said.

The party was of the view that the Parkash Singh Badal government was working in the right direction, he said.

“All development works mentioned in the election manifesto are being carried out by the State Government,” he said. -- PTI

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