BJP high command should keep honour and status of senior party leaders 

Top leadership of Punjab Congress have joined BJP in Chandigarh in presence of BJP’s senior leadership including Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Earlier, former PPCC president Sunil Jakhar had joined the BJP. The new development has clearly indicated that BJP wanted to further strengthen its base in Malwa and Majha belts. Earlier, speculations were on about shifting of loyalties by some senior Congress leaders. Now, all cards are open. On the other hand, Punjab Congress seems to be on defensive mode. PPCC president is trying its best to control the situation. He is trying to check recurrence of such things in the future. He is making all out efforts to make the party united. Will he succeed in his efforts? Time will reveal the results.

With the latest political developments, the veteran BJP leaders who have their long association with the party since their joining from Bharatiya Jan Sangh to Janata Party and from Janata Party to BJP are feeling themselves in an awkward situation. They are seriously thinking about their future. What would be their role and place in the party with the induction of new leaders from the Congress in the BJP? This is the major question which needs to be answered. There are apprehensions that the veteran party leaders may either find themselves isolated or humiliated in the BJP. There is a strong feeling that BJP high command should keep honour and status of all the senior party leaders who throughout their life have never shifted their loyalties. There is an apprehension that there may be some ideological differences within the party with induction of a large scale leaders from outside. 

There is also a strong feeling that the yesterday’s major political development will impact poll results of bypoll in the Sangrur parliament constituency. BJP has already charged the political atmosphere. The murder of noted Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu (Sidhu Moosewala) will put an impact on the poll results. People have to wait for the results because it will not be a suitable time to make any comment at the moment.  However, it cannot be denied that every political party is trying to show its strength on this seat.

Authored by: 
Rajat Kumar Mohindru,
Journalist,
Jalandhar City.