Chandigarh November 23:
With the political tide turning in Punjab and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s coronation as Chief Minister being just a matter of time, he is faced with the onerous task of keeping the Shiromani Akali Dal intact. The Congress, under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh, is eyeing the weakest links in the ruling party.
The path to victory in the upcoming Assembly elections has already become thorny for the incumbent Government following the rebellion by former Finance Minister and Sukhbir’s cousin Manpreet Singh Badal and the appointment of Captain Amarinder as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president. Besides, Sukhbir must also ensure reasonable exposure to his each and every party man to ensure their support.
Captain Amarinder has already sounded the bugle to declare war against the Akalis and his party is also considering drawing in Sukhbir’s key aides to his party-fold to hit him where it hurts most. The Congress has not yet disclosed its plans, as regards Manpreet Singh Badal.
Available information suggests that the Congress has already prepared a list of some SAD leaders who can be easily lured to join the party. Also, some of the Akali members are also in contact with the Congress and ready to leave their party. There are many in SAD waiting for a green signal to join the Congress bandwagon.
“There are some who are not happy with the way things are being managed in the SAD. Sukhbir’s way of functioning is not liked by many in the party. Possibly, after Sukhbir is elevated to the post of his father Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, many leaders may pull up stakes,” a senior SAD leader told reporters, requesting not to be quoted.
Though the chances of the Akalis’ return to the helm of affairs in the next term are obscure, Sukhbir’s elevation to the top spot is no more a guessing game. So far a speculation, it seems Sukhbir’s rise may soon become a reality, if his political supporters do succeed in gathering the requisite numbers. Even the previous elections were fought with Sukhbir’s portrayal as the face of the State’s future. It is believed that bringing Sukhbir to the forefront is a part of the SAD strategy to return to power in 2012.
Sukhbir has already unblocked his way to the top position by expelling his cousin Manpreet from the Cabinet and the party. After suffering a major setback by the rebellious Manpreet, the appointment of Captain Amarinder has only aggravated the problems of the current SAD-BJP regime. Badal senior has passed his power to his son step by step. Preparations to build Sukhbir as the sole successor of his father’s legacy in the SAD began almost three years back. Sukhbir was credited with SAD’s victory in the 2007 Assembly elections and was hailed on all political platforms, bringing in new techniques of canvassing and enrolling youth into the party fold.
To reward his achievements and strengthen his hands in the party, Badal surrendered the post of SAD president to his son bypassing the claim of other senior party leaders. Sukhbir was given all important assignments in the party to ensure that he did not face any hurdles in succeeding his father and avoid any criticism of his interference in the party and the Government affairs.
Initially BJP, the coalition partner of SAD, was critical of Sukhbir’s interference but Badal’s good relations with the BJP national leaders seem to have shut the mouths of local leaders. Punjab’s BJP leaders have reconciled to the fact that they are destined to play second fiddle to the SAD and Sukhbir Singh Badal and it seems they are happy doing the same.
With the political tide turning in Punjab and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s coronation as Chief Minister being just a matter of time, he is faced with the onerous task of keeping the Shiromani Akali Dal intact. The Congress, under the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh, is eyeing the weakest links in the ruling party.
The path to victory in the upcoming Assembly elections has already become thorny for the incumbent Government following the rebellion by former Finance Minister and Sukhbir’s cousin Manpreet Singh Badal and the appointment of Captain Amarinder as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president. Besides, Sukhbir must also ensure reasonable exposure to his each and every party man to ensure their support.
Captain Amarinder has already sounded the bugle to declare war against the Akalis and his party is also considering drawing in Sukhbir’s key aides to his party-fold to hit him where it hurts most. The Congress has not yet disclosed its plans, as regards Manpreet Singh Badal.
Available information suggests that the Congress has already prepared a list of some SAD leaders who can be easily lured to join the party. Also, some of the Akali members are also in contact with the Congress and ready to leave their party. There are many in SAD waiting for a green signal to join the Congress bandwagon.
“There are some who are not happy with the way things are being managed in the SAD. Sukhbir’s way of functioning is not liked by many in the party. Possibly, after Sukhbir is elevated to the post of his father Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, many leaders may pull up stakes,” a senior SAD leader told reporters, requesting not to be quoted.
Though the chances of the Akalis’ return to the helm of affairs in the next term are obscure, Sukhbir’s elevation to the top spot is no more a guessing game. So far a speculation, it seems Sukhbir’s rise may soon become a reality, if his political supporters do succeed in gathering the requisite numbers. Even the previous elections were fought with Sukhbir’s portrayal as the face of the State’s future. It is believed that bringing Sukhbir to the forefront is a part of the SAD strategy to return to power in 2012.
Sukhbir has already unblocked his way to the top position by expelling his cousin Manpreet from the Cabinet and the party. After suffering a major setback by the rebellious Manpreet, the appointment of Captain Amarinder has only aggravated the problems of the current SAD-BJP regime. Badal senior has passed his power to his son step by step. Preparations to build Sukhbir as the sole successor of his father’s legacy in the SAD began almost three years back. Sukhbir was credited with SAD’s victory in the 2007 Assembly elections and was hailed on all political platforms, bringing in new techniques of canvassing and enrolling youth into the party fold.
To reward his achievements and strengthen his hands in the party, Badal surrendered the post of SAD president to his son bypassing the claim of other senior party leaders. Sukhbir was given all important assignments in the party to ensure that he did not face any hurdles in succeeding his father and avoid any criticism of his interference in the party and the Government affairs.
Initially BJP, the coalition partner of SAD, was critical of Sukhbir’s interference but Badal’s good relations with the BJP national leaders seem to have shut the mouths of local leaders. Punjab’s BJP leaders have reconciled to the fact that they are destined to play second fiddle to the SAD and Sukhbir Singh Badal and it seems they are happy doing the same.
