NEW DELHI: The decks are being cleared for the election of the Akali Dal (Kabul) leader Mr. Amrinder Singh as chief minister of Punjab Following a tacit tradeoff between the Congress(|) Bharatiya Janata Party and Mr. Singhs group along with his allies the two communist parties. Sources in various political parties hinted on Thursday that the unopposed election of the scion of the erstwhile princely state of Patiala on Wednesday from Samana in Patiala district was the first step in this direction.
But the move has already run in to troubled waters. The Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mr Kanshi Ram has petitioned the Chief Election Commissioner stating his party nominee from Samana Mr. Amarjeet Singh Ramgarhiya had not withdrawn from the fray and that the declaration by the returning officer be declared null and void.
Though the Bharatiya Janata Panty came down sharply on the government for letting the police loose on potential candidates party leaders failed to explain why to the Akali leader. The party vice president Mr. Krishan Lal Sharma said his party did not have good base in Samana. He however failed to respond to a re Joinder on why his party had filed nominations.
Similarly the Congress(I) also failed to explain why the party had chosen to withdraw after declaring that it would contest all the 117 seats to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The party spokesman Mr. C. P. Thakur said the PCC (I) leaders pleading anonymity said he move had been initiated by the party high command with the aim of installing an Akali Dal government in Punjab.
Even BJP sources indicated that they like the Congress (I) were not averse w the troubled state being governed by nationalistic minded” Akali leaders. The move has also been supported by the Communist party of India (Marxist) which has been behind the move to rope in some Akali leaders in the electoral fray. The party general secretary Mr Harkishan Singh Surjeet has already stated that neither the Congress (I) nor the BIP could insure long lasting peace in the troubled state as the Sikh Majority would not be able to identify with it.
A senior BIP leader disclosed that party leaders had impressed upon the Congress (I) leadership to abandon the nascent desire to come to power in the state. BIP leaders as well as the CPI (M) pointed out to the Congress (I) that the people of the suit would not accept the Congress (I) government for the “series of misdemeanor’s” since. “Operation Bluestar.” The only way open for the Center was to ensure that a moderate Akali leadership came to power with the tacit support of all nationalistic minded political parties. The leaders argued that the basic aim was to defeat the secessionist forces rising above narrow partisan party politics.
However Mr. Sharma when asked whether his party would support a minority government led by Mr. Singh said that it was a premature question.” The Akali Dal (Kabul) has fielded about 80 candidates while the Leftist parties have put up 35. The BIP has fielded 65 and the Congress (1) in all the constituencies. Congress (I) leaders in charge of Punjab affairs disclosed the party had fielded “weak candidates” in close to 40 constituencies to insure the victory of Mr Singhs nominee.
The BIP has never won more than 15 seats in Punjab after the imbroglio surfaced in the state. Though the leaders are banking (on increased visibility on account of Hindu consolidation it is unlikely that the presence of the party will go up dramatically. This coupled with the Congress) decision to field several “weak candidates” is likely to ensure the return of the Akali Dal (Kabul) with a majority.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1992
