CHANDIGARH: As former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the speculations about future politics of Captain are rife. Would he join BJP or seek help of BJP to topple Congress government in Punjab?
Highly placed sources said that Capt Amarinder Singh is unlikely to join BJP. It is learnt that Capt Amarinder Singh is expected to form a new political party to cotest 2022 assembly elections. The new political paty may for an alliance with BJP to contest the polls. In other words, BJP will support Capt Amarinder Singh to win the elections. BJP was earlier contesting Punjab elections in partnership with Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD).
It is understood that BJP had supported Capt Amarinder Singh in the 2017 elections to prevent AAP from coming into power. The BJP cadre had not voted for SAD which led to defeat of Akali Dal. Congress would not have formed the government in 2017 without support of BJP, the political observers said. Even SAD had ensured to divert its votes to Congress at select seats to counter AAP.
The political observers said that there was an understanding between Capt Amarinder Singh and BJP that he would support SAD-BJP alliance in 2022 polls but things changed drastically after SAD broke alliance with BJP due to impact of farmers agitation. A section of Congress leaders in Punjab feel that Capt Amarinder Singh had deliberately delayed decisions on demands of various sections of society including employees to fuel anti-incumbency factor. SAD would have gained due to unrest among the people.
It is also alleged that SAD and BJP had a tacit understanding even after break up of political alliance. Many of senior BJP leaders had reently joined SAD to pave way for smooth transfer of BJP votes to SAD. However now after removal of Capt Amarinder Singh by Congress party, the equations have changed. A new line of political alliance may develop in the state in which Captain-SAD and BJP may join hands against AAP now an emerging power in Punjab. What would be strategy of Congress is still not clear after PPCC president Navjot Sidhu taking a different path.
It is believed that BJP may acept demands of farmers sitting on Punjab borders and its credit may be given to Capt Amarinder Singh. In such a situation it would be easy for SAD to return to BJP fold and sign a political pact with Capt Amarinder Singh.