In makeover attempt, BJP ropes in ‘eminent’ persons

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 16

The BJP today kicked off its poll plan for Punjab. A day after the high-level meeting, six “prominent” personalities from the state joined the saffron party in the presence of Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma, general secretary in charge Dushyant Gautam and union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Those who joined the party are former All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) president Harinder Singh Kahlon, advocate Jagmohan Singh Saini, who is associated with the Intellectual Farmers Front (Patiala), advocate Nirmal Singh from Mohali, Kuldeep Singh Kahlon (former AISSF) from Gurdaspur, former Guru Kashi University VC Jaswinder Singh Dhillon and Col Jaibans Singh from Patiala.

While detractors termed the new entrants “politically irrelevant”, BJP leaders said they were “important keeping in mind the prevailing perceptions in the state”.

Ashwani Sharma said Punjab wanted peace, prosperity, and development and all those who wanted this would gain confidence when “persons of such stature join BJP”.

Shekhawat said the “The social standing of new entrants will help in removing misconceptions in society,” he said.

Punjab BJP general secretary Subhash Sharma said: “Fresh faces from the Sikh community in the party will help break the perception that people of Punjab or Sikhs are upset with the BJP. PM Narendra Modi has done a lot for Punjab and Sikhs and this is a reflection of that acceptance.”

He said more “prominent personalities from social and political space” would join the party in the days to come.

The new entrants called the ongoing farmers’ agitation “politically motivated” and said they would reach out to farmers to clear the air on all issues.