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BJP spoilt for choice of ally in Haryana
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is caught in a choice of plenty in deciding its ally in northern province Haryana for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
- By Ajay Jha, Chief Correspondent
- Published: 22:59 September 12, 2008
New Delhi: The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is caught in a choice of plenty in deciding its ally in northern province Haryana for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The party is unable to decide between its estranged ally Indian National Lok Dal and the breakaway Janhit Congress party.
This is in total contrast to the situation in Assam and Uttar Pradesh. While it has allied with erstwhile partner Asom Gana Parishad in Assam, talks are going smoothly with two sub-regional parties, Rashtriya Lok Dal and Apna Dal for alliance in western and eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Seeking new partners
BJP is currently scouting for fresh partners to expand the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that ruled the country between 1998-2004 for the next general elections expected to be held anytime between December this year and April next year.
Haryana, being a small state with just 10 Lok Sabha seats, cannot afford to have tie ups with two parties. As a senior BJP leader explained, it is yet to decide between political arithmetic and political chemistry.
"INLD suits us if we go by political arithmetic but political chemistry goes well with the Janhit Congress," said the BJP leader.
Final decision
The state unit of the party, which was authorised initially to select the ally, has left the final decision to the party's central leadership which is expected to take the final call on the issue soon.
BJP is essentially seen as an urban party and depends on the non-Jat votes. Joining hands with INLD, which has a base amongst the 24 per cent Jat community voters of the state makes a perfect match.
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