BJP breaks coalition shackles for rural polls

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BJP breaks coalition shackles for rural polls
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Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 7
Refuting the recent statement of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal in which he termed the polls as a friendly match between the SAD and BJP, the leaders belonging to the saffron party have given in writing about the end of the alliance in the forthcoming PRI polls.
They have even lodged a complaint for misusing their party symbol against SAD (B) candidates.
At a conference held here today, the BJP leaders informed they had lodged a complaint with the district returning officer. They mentioned that there was no alliance between the SAD and the BJP for the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections slated for May 12. Further, they alleged that the candidates of the SAD (B) had been representing themselves as joint candidates of the combine, which was quite illegal and was a violation of the election code. Therefore, action must be taken against them and all banners, posters and pamphlets should be seized, the BJP requested to the district returning officer.
On the other hand, when contacted, Bathinda MP Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan, said at village Chak Bakhtu in the district, “The decision was taken at the high command’s level, so we all are supposed to follow the orders.”
When asked about the use of the BJP symbol over SAD posters and stickers, district in-charge of the SAD (B), Sikander Singh Maluka said, “Earlier, we had not even thought of a break in the alliance. So, some candidates had got the posters printed with both the symbols. But now, we have ordered all our candidates not to use them.”
Speaking further on the issue, he said, “The BJP candidates have some kind of a misconception about their vote bank which will soon be exposed after the results of the polls are declared.”