As ‘big brother’ in Punjab, Akalis will take the lead: Amit Shah

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 27

In Punjab, Akalis are the “big brother”—a reason why BJP chief Amit Shah feels they should take the lead when it comes to formation of the strategy for the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state.

However, this also does not mean the saffron party will leave everything to them, Shah said on Friday, while also putting to an end the speculations of any “differences” between the allies.

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Shah said the two partners would fight the 2017 polls with all their “dum-khum”—might and worth—and “win as well”. “In Punjab they (Akalis) are the elder brother, the bigger ally, which is why the lead (in strategy formation) must be taken by them...it is quite obvious.

“Since they contest more number of seats, they must also take the lead but it is not as if we have left everything to them....this is not true. We (Akalis plus BJP) will contest the elections together, with all our ‘dum-khum’,” he said.

However, this apart, faced with the formidable opposition by an emerging AAP, a resurgent Congress and anti-incumbency of two terms there are concerns among the top BJP leadership about the prospects of the Akali-BJP alliance in the state.

This is perhaps the reason why the central BJP leadership seems to be more inclined to take a backseat in Punjab and leave everything to the ally unlike in Uttar Pradesh where it is actively involved in strategy-formation and minute detailing.

As per a top source, “the situation in Punjab is difficult (for the Akali-BJP alliance)”. At the same time, he added that the “situation is not so difficult that it cannot be overcome”. “All through the past two years, there have been speculations about the SAD-BJP alliance break-up. It did not happen and will not in the days to come. Our political opponents in Punjab are eager to write us off, citing differences within the BJP and the alliance. The fact is we are together and will contest the 2017 polls as one collective force,” the source added.