BJP Banks on Modi in Punjab: Contesting Alone in State Elections Unveiled!

BJP Relies on Modi while Contesting Independently in Punjab

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Departed from BJP-Led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) due to Repealed Farm Laws

BJP Contests 2024 Lok Sabha Polls in Punjab Alone after SAD Exit from NDA

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is competing in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Punjab without the support of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which left the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) due to the now-repealed farm laws. Relying on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurances, the BJP aims to secure some of the 13 seats in Punjab.

Modi Campaigns in Punjab, Acknowledges Sikh Contribution to Nation Building

During his campaign in the state on Thursday, Modi praised Punjab and the Sikh community for their significant role in nation building. He expressed regret over the inability to access Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan for 70 years, blaming the Congress for the situation. Modi remarked that if he had been in power in 1971, he would have negotiated for Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan in exchange for prisoners of war. He emphasized the importance of resolving the issue to allow easier access to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara.

Modi Government Highlights Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Opening as Key Achievement

The Modi government considers the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, providing visa-free access to the final resting place of Guru Nanak, as one of its significant achievements.

BJP Raises Questions for AAP Regarding Maliwal

The BJP seized the opportunity to criticize Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's anti-corruption stance, citing the now-repealed Delhi excise policy and the arrest of top Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders.

Kejriwal, who spearheaded the India Against Corruption movement before entering politics, was arrested in March regarding purported irregularities in the policy. Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh is currently out on bail in connection with the case. Meanwhile, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia remains in custody.

Confident in securing all seven Lok Sabha seats in the capital, the BJP anticipates that the accusations against AAP leaders will aid in displacing the party from Delhi.

Additionally, allegations against Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, accused of assaulting Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal at the chief minister's residence, provide another opportunity for the BJP to criticize the AAP. These allegations have cast a shadow over the AAP's election campaign.

On Thursday, Union Minister Smriti Irani accused Kejriwal of betraying Maliwal, while BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi questioned Kumar's presence at Kejriwal's residence, emphasizing that he had no affiliation with the party or the government.

A BJP leader, speaking anonymously, stated that Maliwal's allegations would be more difficult to address. "If there was even a slight chance that the party would garner sympathy for Kejriwal's imprisonment, Maliwal's accusations would ensure there is no public support," the leader remarked.