New Delhi. Captain Amarinder Singh, who resigned as the Chief Minister of Punjab last month, had spoken of keeping his future options open. After this, the Bharatiya Janata Party is now eyeing the Punjab Assembly elections to be held next year. In this episode, the BJP has said that the party is keeping open the options of any possible alliance with the former Chief Minister of the state, Amarinder Singh.
Along with making this information public, the BJP is closely monitoring the political moves of former CM Singh. BJP national general secretary and Punjab in-charge Dushyant Gautam discussed this with news agency IANS.
Gautam told that the BJP has its own plan and strategy for the Punjab Assembly elections. The party is working according to the developing situation. There is no doubt that Captain Amarinder Singh is a big name and has an influence on the politics of Punjab, he said. However, first of all the Captain should make his position very clear about the next political move.
Gautam further said that we also have our own plans and BJP is moving ahead with it. We can’t say anything about Captain Amarinder Singh’s strategy and can’t even tell at the moment what will happen in the future? Gautam also said that the doors of the BJP are open to all nationalists. We are a nationalist party and the nation comes first for us and we welcome anyone who believes in this.
Gautam said that the BJP is currently working on strengthening the organizational presence across the state. We are focusing on getting 51 per cent vote share. Meanwhile, the party is already running several campaigns to increase its base in the state.
In fact, former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has made it clear that he is not joining the BJP. However, he has no intention of continuing in the Congress. Several party leaders have acknowledged that the Captain will give a boost to the BJP’s campaign. Any alliance will happen only when he makes his stand clear.
Another party leader said that the image of the Captain is in line with our nationalist politics. Captain can be used to pacify the farmers who have been protesting against three agricultural laws for the last one year. Another leader said that Captain Shiromani will help the BJP regain lost ground after its alliance with the Akali Dal broke down. Captain’s stature and understanding of politics will help us join hands with him.
As part of its strategy, the BJP is already focusing on around three dozen urban seats. According to a party source, voters in urban constituencies have different aspirations. The desire of the urban voters of Punjab is prosperity and peace. These voters will support the party that promises both. Earlier also they supported BJP, now we are working to win back their support in the next state elections.
In fact, the BJP is facing the toughest challenges in Punjab as compared to the four states namely Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand. Simultaneous elections are to be held here in February-March next year. The BJP is set to contest the assembly elections on its own in Punjab for the first time after it pulled out of the alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal last year over the new agricultural laws. In the last 2017 Punjab Assembly elections, the BJP had won only three out of 23.
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