SAD-BJP reconciliation effort gets a jolt with Yashwants resignation

Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinhas resignation on Thursday,from the post of Punjab BJP in charge,is seen as a setback to the reconciliation efforts initiated by the party leader a fortnight ago.

Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinhas resignation on Thursday,from the post of Punjab BJP in charge,is seen as a setback to the reconciliation efforts initiated by the party leader a fortnight ago. Sinha met both the Punjab BJP and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to salvage the shaky SAD-BJP alliance. He had tried to steamroller the differences between the ruling alliance partners and belted out we are a family slogan. But with his resignation,reportedly to show his angst for not appointing him as the Jharkhand CM,BJP and SAD may again begin to ride roughshod over each other,diluting Sinhas efforts to infuse new lease of life in the alliance.

Soon after his appointment as Punjab in-charge in July end,the state BJP had crossed swords with the Akali Dal over the issue of unequal distribution of funds for development. BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia had sought money for partys constituencies in urban areas. The saffron party had felt that the Akali Dal was priming the pump for uplift of rural areas,their stronghold,and ignoring cities.

With Assembly elections not far,sparring alliance partners were not a good sign for the alliance. So Sinha rushed to Punjab,where he reportedly gave a piece of mind to the BJP minister and told him to keep his counsel. He also met almost all the party ministers and MLAs and gave an ear to their grievances.

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Then,he talked turkey to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at his residence,and shared the sore points. Echoing Sinha,Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had also stated that that there were no differences between the coalition partners,and the tie was unbreakable.

Interestingly,Sinha had replaced Balbir Punj,who was shifted to Gujarat allegedly due to the poor equation he shared with the SAD on various issues. He had twice threatened mass resignation by party MLAs to pressurise Badal.

The Punjab BJP,which has been in news not only for tiff with the Akali Dal but also within the party,is a tough unit to handle. Earlier this year,senior BJP leader and Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla and partys chief parliamentary secretary Jagdish Sawhney had kicked up a row after raids were conducted at ultrasound centres of latters kin. Sawhney had launched an acidic diatribe against Chawla,who also stuck to her guns. Things reached such a pass that BJP president Nitin Gadkari had to intervene. He reportedly told the leaders not to wash their dirty linen in public. While the flames within the party had not doused completely,it started making its feeling for the SAD public. Incidentally,Sinha had also asked partymen to refrain from public outbursts against the alliance partner.

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SAD-BJP reconciliation effort gets a jolt with Yashwants resignation

Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinhas resignation on Thursday,from the post of Punjab BJP in charge,is seen as a setback to the reconciliation efforts initiated by the party leader a fortnight ago.

SAD-BJP reconciliation effort gets a jolt with Yashwants resignation

Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinhas resignation on Thursday,from the post of Punjab BJP in charge,is seen as a setback to the reconciliation efforts initiated by the party leader a fortnight ago.