With the Punjab Assembly elections 2022 nearing, the turmoil in the state has been increasing frequently. The chaos, infights as well as a war of words between prominent leaders within the same party have turned the electoral scenario even more interesting in the state. While the aged-old Congress party is heading towards its massive defeat in upcoming elections because of the internal chaos, BJP is all set to sweep the state.
From Shiromani Akali Dal leaders joining BJP to Ashwini Sharma’s working round the clock to reach out to the Punjab people with more information about welfare schemes of the Modi government and the restoration of Jallianwala Bagh memorial, BJP is adding up to its vote bank ahead of Punjab Assembly elections. TFI had earlier reported that BJP will sweep Punjab in upcoming elections and now, we have three reasons that are enough to validate our prediction.
Restoration of Jallianwala Bagh memorial
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the renovated complex of Amritsar-situated Jallianwala Bagh Smarak as well as new museum galleries constructed at the site. BJP’s official Twitter handle read, “A tribute to the bravehearts who lost their lives on April 13, 1919. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will dedicate renovated complex of Jallianwala Bagh Smarak to the nation.”
However, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Amarinder Singh, Punjab CM took different stances on the same issue. While Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the government’s move to refurbish the Jallianwala Bagh memorial, Amarinder Singh has come out in support of the decision.
With such a move to renovate the historical memorial, the BJP has managed to grab the attention of Punjab to ensure its vote bank in order to proceed towards the victory.
Amit Shah- Ashwini Sharma duo
Home Minister Amit Shah and State President Ashwini Sharma are adopting every possible strategy and turning the table to ensure the maximum vote bank in Punjab. While BJP already has the support of a majority of Hindus, who comprise 38.5 per cent of the fifth largest economy of India, it is now working towards making a stronghold among the OBC community and credit for such political acumen goes to Amit shah.
Read more: We predicted that BJP will win Punjab elections this time. Congress and Akali seem to agree with us
On the other hand, Ashwini Sharma is all charged up for the action and has been constantly holding meetings informing people about the welfare schemes and work done by the Modi government. Recently, he reached Ludhiana where farmers were protesting, and heavy police were deployed. Addressing the media, Ashwini said it was sad to see the infighting in the Punjab Congress and it is the state and its people who are suffering due to personal issues and egos of the leaders.
Induction of SAD leaders in BJP
Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders went further to join the saffron party and this induction will ultimately result in a strengthened BJP. SAD leaders named Gurpreet Singh Shahpur, Chand Singh Chhatha, Baljinder Singh Dakoha along with Jathedar Preetam Singh switched their parties to join BJP ahead of Punjab Assembly elections.
Pritam Singh, a Dalit leader formerly associated with the SAD, also joined the party. Welcoming the new entrants, Union Home Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the presence of such “eminent” personalities in the party is a cause for celebration for not just the people of Punjab but the entire country.
However, TFI had earlier predicted that BJP will be an alternative to SAD and Congress In the 2022 assembly election. The state has a 38.5 per cent Hindu population and 57.7 per cent Sikh population, of which only 21 percent are Jat Sikhs who are at the forefront of this fake farmer protest. The Dalit Sikhs, who constitute a large percentage of the population (31 percent), have traditionally voted for the Congress party, and this is the reason that the grand old party repeatedly comes to power in the state despite the stain of its involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
But, with the approach of BJP to gain the vote bank of Dalits in the state, BJP can form invincible coalition fields that can eventually benefit the party to oust other parties in the state.
Read more: With a divided Congress, powerless SAD, and inconsequential AAP, BJP is going for the kill in Punjab
However, from the above instances, it is clear that BJP has marked the beginning to fight the upcoming elections like never before. While other parties are dealing with their infights and chaos, BJP is proceeding further towards its massive victory in the state.
Highly unlikely. Even if we ignore the fact that BJP until recently had to depend on SAD as a crutch, BJP has no mass support in the state. Moreover Punjab is as difficult to pull off as West Bengal or Kerala and due to the same reasons- HINDI+HINDU+HINDUTVA.Bjp comes with a preset package and so the state has again not been so receptive of BJP. At the very best, BJP can hope for a split verdict and play spoil sport in the next assembly. BJP should have ended things with SAD even before 2017 elections if it wanted to make any serious dent in Punjab- Sikhs don’t like the Hindu narrative that tries to usurp indigenous religions, and Hindus didn’t like SAD coz it’s always been right at the centre of a Punjabi suba movement
What if it’s a repeat of pre-election exodus to BJP as in bengal election just for spying to collect & harm by acquisition of inner strategy data? Don’t trust politicians’ move specially when state is in election mode. If anyone of them will be denied tickets he / she will look forward for adoption by a new MAI-BAAP.