Govt’s poor image behind poll losses: BJP to Badal
Tuesday, 27/05/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140527/punjab.htm#2
Chandigarh : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has been told by the BJP that the “negative image” of the Punjab Government was mainly responsible for the poor performance of the SAD-BJP alliance in the state that saw the defeat of BJP leader Arun Jaitley.
Well-placed sources said the BJP in charge of Punjab affairs, Shanta Kumar, met Badal in the Capital last week. He told him that the people had voted against SAD and BJP candidates on account of resentment against the state government. The meeting at Kapurthala House was also attended by Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma.
Shanta Kumar, without mincing words, told Badal and Sharma that the image of the government has been defiled on account of the poor conduct of its ministers. That was why the SAD-BJP alliance could not cash in on the Modi wave that swept the country. Shanta Kumar mentioned the good performance by AAP, both in terms of the vote share and the number of seats it won. He said this proved there was popular resentment against the government and its ministers.
The BJP is unhappy over Jaitley's defeat in Amritsar at the hands of former CM Capt Amarinder Singh. The party feels it could not dissociate itself from the negative image of the Badal Government and had to pay dearly at the hustings. The party is allegedly disturbed on account of its shrinking vote share even in Punjab's urban pockets. The Punjab BJP is yet to formally discuss the factors behind the party’s poor electoral performance. The state BJP's “core group” was to meet here yesterday but the meeting was put off to May 27.
