Haryana: Uncertainty over BJP-JJP tie-up in Lok Sabha poll

Tribune News Service

Deepender Deswal

Hisar, March 1

With the General Election likely to be announced within a fortnight, the BJP is keeping silence on whether it will contest the Lok Sabha poll in alliance with the JJP. The JJP leadership has stated that it was part of the NDA and hopeful of the continuation of alliance for the Lok Sabha poll as well.

Alliance unlikely, says Prem Lata

BJP ex-MLA from Uchana Prem Lata said it was unlikely that the BJP would contest the General Election in alliance with the JJP. “The Rajasthan Assembly poll is a case in point, where JJP candidates lost their security deposit on almost all seats they contested,” she said.

Will fight jointly: Ajay Chautala

Asked about the seat-sharing formula, Ajay Chautala said they would fight the poll together. "Milkar ladenge" was his refrain to repeated questions about the issue. He also indicated that any member of his family could be a candidate in the Lok Sabha poll.

JJP supremo Ajay Singh Chautala, while opening an election office in Hisar, has indicated that they would remain in coalition for the Lok Sabha elections. Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala also indicated during his Bhiwani visit that while the party was focused on Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, Hisar and Sirsa Lok Sabha seats, it was geared up to contest all 10 seats.

Sources said the party was hopeful that the BJP leadership would “accommodate” them in the Lok Sabha poll. “The coalition is going on successfully and it is unlikely to snap ties when the General Election is set to be announced soon. Dumping a coalition partner at this stage will also have an adverse impact on NDA’s coalition politics,” he said.

However, BJP leaders have talked about “blooming 10 kamals”, indicating that they would field their own candidates on all seats. BJP state president Nayab Saini, during his Bhiwani visit today, also stated that the party had opened election offices in all Lok Sabha segments.

“It seems highly unlikely that the BJP will share any seat with the JJP. State leaders, including Birender Singh, who still enjoy influence in the central body of the party, are vocal critics of the alliance,” said political expert Prof SS Chahar, a retired professor of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. The BJP had also shortlisted its candidates and was unlikely to suffer any damage if the JJP walked out of the coalition, he added.

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