BJP Leaders Reject SAD Alliance, Seek Mandate
Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, along with RSS general secretary (organisation) for Punjab and Chandigarh Srinivaslu Mantri and chief media advisor Vineet Joshi, firmly rejected any possibility of an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) during a press interaction on Friday. Dhillon stated that the party would contest all 117 seats in the state, with multiple aspirants for several constituencies.
Double-Engine Government Promise
The BJP leaders sought 'one chance to serve Punjab' from voters, arguing that a double-engine government at the Centre and state could deliver unprecedented progress. Mantri said the BJP could no longer play conductor to an alliance bus driven by someone else, as its promises got lost when another party held the wheel. He questioned why the BJP could not form a government on its own in Punjab when Congress and AAP had done so without allying with the Akalis.
Solutions to State's Problems
Dhillon claimed the BJP had solutions to Punjab's issues, including drugs, unemployment, gangsterism, and corruption. He said the party would ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) on all crops, citing the BJP government in Haryana as an example. Joshi highlighted that potato farmers in Punjab got low prices while the crop sold for Rs 6 per kg across the border in Haryana, attributing the difference entirely to the change in government.
Resolving Long-Standing Issues
The leaders acknowledged that issues like river water-sharing, transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, and release of Bandi Sikhs remained unresolved for years, with every party playing politics. Mantri said these could be resolved through dialogue involving BJP governments in Punjab, Haryana, and at the Centre.
Ground-Level Preparedness
Dhillon noted that the BJP had been working quietly, giving thousands of crores for Sikh gurdwaras and Punjab. With monsoon raising flood threats, party leaders, circle heads, and booth-level workers were on the ground assessing flood relief work and preparing to assist residents in emergencies.
