BJP should have tried to retain ex-allies: Badal

Following the defeat of NDA in the Lok Sabha polls, the Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal today blamed BJP leaders for not havi...

Following the defeat of NDA in the Lok Sabha polls, the Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal today blamed BJP leaders for not having patched up with the party’s estranged allies before polls. Badal, considered close to outgoing Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, said he had tried to persuade BJP leaders to win back allies like INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala before the polls.

‘‘They did not listen to me and I could not have imposed my decision on them,’’ he said, at the end of the first meeting of eight-member Shromani Akali Dal (SAD) legislature party here today. The BJP has pocketed three seats in Punjab, in alliance with the SAD.

He said it was clear that national political parties, that sew up alliances well with regional parties, would win. ‘‘But they (BJP) allowed a person like Farooq Abdullah to go. And worst was Viako — the sincerest of allies — walking out,’’ Badal said.

Story continues below this ad

‘‘The BJP should have called them back since even a margin of two or three per cent makes a difference between victory and defeat.’’ Badal is expected to meet Vajpayee late this evening.

Akalis had barely lost power to Congress in the state some two years ago and hence party’s victory is being viewed as remarkable. However, the Akalis are not being able to savour their victory fully due to the debacle of NDA at the Centre.

Badal, however, said he would stand by the NDA and rued the return of the Congress at the Centre. He said it was a ‘‘bad omen for Punjab.’’ ‘‘Punjab’s experience with the Congress has been bitter. The latter has been floating parallel Akali Dals to dismember the Shiromani Akali Dal.’’