Political activity intensifies with defections ahead of Punjab polls
Ahead of the assembly elections, party switches by leaders have complicated political equations among major parties in the state. Following the joining of three AAP MLAs into the BJP, discussions over ticket claims and alliances have accelerated.
Ahead of the Punjab assembly elections, the trend of leaders changing parties has created major political turmoil in the state. Following the joining of three Aam Aadmi Party leaders Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, and Chetan Singh Jouramajra into the BJP, new equations regarding ticket claimants and seat sharing have started forming across various parties.
The Aam Aadmi Party has appointed new constituency incharges in place of sitting MLAs in Pathankot, Sujanpur, Bathinda Rural, Jalandhar Cantt, and Kharar constituencies. Due to this, the apprehension of sitting MLAs losing their tickets persists in these constituencies. The party is considering canceling tickets of several other MLAs based on internal surveys, because of which many leaders are preparing to establish contact with other parties.
On the other hand, Congress is also indicating fielding new faces in about 40 percent of the constituencies. This time the party is planning to give priority to youth and leaders with a clean image. Taking a jibe at the recent defections, Punjab Pradesh Congress President Pargat Singh claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party government is weakening and pressure is being exerted on political leaders by showing fear of central agencies.
In the event of a potential agreement between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), seat sharing has become quite complicated. Old Akali Dal leaders are already claimants in the constituencies of MLAs who recently joined the BJP. Due to Akali leader Harinder Singh Chandumajra from Sanaur, Anil Joshi from Amritsar North, and pre-existing claims in Samana constituency, a deadlock may arise before both parties.
Apart from this, there is also discussion within the BJP that if the party is restricted to 45 to 50 seats under an alliance instead of all 117 seats, resentment among old party leaders may increase. Due to not getting tickets, the possibility of several leaders contesting elections independently in the coming days is being expressed.
Key developments
- Defection discussions intensify in the state after three AAP leaders join the BJP.
- Unease among sitting MLAs due to AAP appointing new incharges in five constituencies.
- Congress prepares to field new faces in 40 percent of constituencies.
- Equations tangled between BJP and Akali Dal over rural seat claims.
