Factionalism in Cong, BJP on the rise

Ashok Kaura

Our Correspondent

Phagwara, October 13

Though war of words and the political tug of war between two factions of BJP led by former Punjab BJP President Vijay Sampla and Phagwara BJP MLA Som Parkash has continued for the past five years, but in place of bringing both factions on one platform with mutual understanding, Union Minister of State Vijay Sampla has preferred to pacify Shiromani Akali Dal leaders keeping in view the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Sampla had been repeatedly visiting Phagwara as it falls in Hoshiarpur Parliamentary Constituency from where Sampla wants to contest the next Lok Sabha elections. Sampla first met senior Akali leader Sarwan Singh Kular and his supporters on Friday and he went to the residence of former Markfed Chairman Jarnail Singh Wahid to pacify him and the supporters of Wahid and Kular on Saturday.

Though SAD leaders assured Sampla of open support in the coming elections, it was learnt that negotiation to exchange few Lok Sabha seats between SAD and BJP to ensure victory in the coming elections had been going on.

However, the supporters of Som Parkash maintained distance from the meeting of Sampla with SAD leaders. The ongoing deep factionalism (despite claims of unity) in BJP could be a big problem for BJP high command this time.