Changing of loyalties common factor in Punjab politics

Changing of loyalties seems to a common thing and common factor in Punjab politics. It is pertinent to note that ignoring own senior political leaders by political parties to new entrants can cost the political parties dearer in Punjab in coming days. In the pre-assembly elections number of political leaders from various national and regional political parties joined AAP and the election results success is known to all of you as this party formed its government in Punjab. Senior BJP leaders are committed to strengthen the Bharatiya Janata Party organization in Punjab keeping in mind the municipal corporation elections and parliament elections in 2024. BJP high command opened its doors to all the political leaders of various political parties to join the party and in this strategy the BJP even ignored its cadre based senior leaders. In the arena of politics loyalties of political leaders can change at any moment and time as their career is always the priority of the political leaders towards power game. BJP’s owns cadre in Punjab seems to be on wait and watch policy. 

Number of former ministers from Congress who joined BJP and SAD(B) are back to their parent political party. The reason for the same need to be answered. BJP leaders Raj Kumar Verka, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Gurpreet Singh Kangar and SAD (B) leaders Hans Raj Josan, Dr Mohinder Singh Rinwa, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu have joined Congress giving a big jolt to BJP and SAD(B). Even though the present state president BJP Sunil Kumar Jakhar is a seasoned politician but the exit of Congress leaders from BJP has raised number of questions in the minds of BJP cadre. BJP national president JP Nadda is well known to the Punjab politics and the demographic conditions in Punjab as he was election in charge of Punjab Assembly Elections in 2012. Even BJP senior leaders and former ministers Punjab Manoranjan Kalia, Vijay Sampla, Master Mohan Lal, Dr Baldev Chawla, Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla and others have been accommodated in BJP Core Committee Groups but it is the need for the party to utilise their experiences in the coming municipal corporation and parliament elections in Punjab. 

The SYL issue can once again become a political issue in the Punjab politics. Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh during his tenure had scrapped the project on the ground that Punjab does not have excess river water. Former CM Punjab Parkash Singh Badal was also not in favour of this canal. Punjab’s stand was that it should also be allocated water from River Yamuna.   

Punjab Government has issued notification that elections to the Punjab Municipal Corporation be held before 15th November this year. As the clarity on the elections to municipal ward limits is still in dilemma and it is festival season in Punjab. Will the state government extend the date of Municipal Corporation elections or undergo the Municipal Corporation elections before 15th November 2023? Number of leaders are keeping eye on their future strategy in the chess of politics.

Meanwhile, all the political parties are gearing up for the assembly elections in the five states. Who wins or loses cannot be predicted at his stage. However, these elections are going to be an acid test for all the mainstream political parties such as 
BJP, Congress and AAP and even for the regional parties, keeping in mind the coming parliament elections next year. 

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