The Hindu : New Delhi News : Discord in Punjab BJP over Badal move

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Discord in Punjab BJP over Badal move

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party is facing a piquant situation in Punjab where its State unit is not in sync with its central party leadership on the issue of giving a green signal to its ally, the Akali Dal, on appointing Sukhbir Singh Badal, son of Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, as Deputy Chief Minister.

Apparently, about 15 days ago, Mr. Prakash Singh Badal shared his plan with the top leadership of the BJP to make his son the Deputy Chief Minister. It was only after he received the go-ahead that he went ahead with his plan. On Saturday, Sukhbir Singh Badal met BJP president Rajnath Singh.

Later, Mr. Singh told journalists that the party leader L.K. Advani and he both agreed to the Akali proposal.

The party’s State unit leaders have lodged a strong protest with Mr. Singh. They pointed out that having the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister from the same party was not in keeping with coalition ‘dharma.’

While the central leadership told the State unit not to let matters go out of hand, the State leaders are pressing the senior leaders here to either get out of the coalition government in Punjab and support it from outside or get the decision on Sukhbir Singh Badal reversed.

A senior leader here indicated that the issue had more to do with the senior Badal trying to ensure the line of succession in the Akali Dal. The central BJP leadership is not interested in angering the Badals ahead of the Lok Sabha poll.

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