By Nitin Mahajan
Ahead of the crucial Punjab Assembly polls, Bharatiya Janata Party is facing a major crisis. The saffron unit has turned into an “untouchable” as political outfits maintain a distance from it.
The BJP has even been deserted by Shiromani Akali Dal, its oldest ally in the National Democratic Alliance.
Sources feel that the situation for the state BJP is precarious as the party tries to avoid major embarrassment at the elections.
With Punjab being an agricultural state the issue of Central farm laws is expected to dominate the political discourse.
The local BJP leadership is fearful that the party would become a pariah if the Narendra Modi government doesn’t back down on these laws. The state unit has also made the Central leadership aware of this sentiment.
However, the Central leadership of the party is unwilling to give into the demands of the state leaders.
Punjab is one of the few States that is ruled by non BJP government. And the party hopes to do well in next year’s assembly polls. However, with no willing allies and formidable opposition of Congress, Aam aadmi party and SAD-BSP combine the party seems to be languishing in the fourth position in the state.