Punjab BJP must shed ‘junior ally’ tag: Jakhar

Chandigarh : Taking a jibe over again having an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar said the saffron party must shed the tag of “younger brother” (junior ally).

Speaking after formally assuming the charge as BJP state president, Jakhar said the alliance with the SAD was a “tale of the past and it was formed in mid-1990s when the situation was different”.

Jakhar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, national president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had shown faith in him. “My first duty is to make you realise of your strength. We must win hearts of Punjabis before thinking of winning the seats,” he said while addressing BJP office-bearers and party workers.

Former Gujarat chief minister and Punjab affairs incharge Vijay Rupani also laid emphasis on contesting all 13 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. “We must keep communal harmony in the state intact,” said Rupani.

Former BJP state president Avinash Rai Khanna said the party must be ready to contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. Former cabinet minister Rana Gurmeet Sodhi said people in Punjab were looking towards the BJP with a new hope.

However, after the function– in a tweet–Sharma said that he couldn’t attend the function because he was unwell.