Prominent Sikh face Sirsa gives BJP a shot in the arm in poll-bound Punjab

Though Sirsa’s closeness with the BJP rank and file in the national capital was well known, but making a prominent Sikh face join the BJP is being seen as a signal that the saffron party will contest the 2022 Punjab assembly polls aggressively

In a first major political ambush by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its former ally Shiromani Akali Dal, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Manjinder Singh Sirsa, considered right-hand man of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, joined the saffron fold in Delhi on Wednesday. Sirsa also quit the gurdwara body post.

Senior BJP leaders claim that Manjinder Sirsa’s joining the BJP has set the tone for other leaders across parties in Punjab to follow suit. (PTI)

Though Sirsa’s closeness with the BJP rank and file in the national capital was well known, but making a prominent Sikh face join the BJP is being seen as a signal that the saffron party will contest the 2022 Punjab assembly polls aggressively.

However, Sirsa doesn’t have a political base in Punjab as such, but he was always a part of party’s think tank with strong links with young Akali leaders. He had also served as the political adviser to Sukhbir Badal when he was deputy chief minister in 2016-17. Sirsa was elevated to the core group of the party a couple of years back.

Along with Sirsa, SAD’s student wing Student Organisation of India (SOI) former chief Parminder Brar also joined the BJP. He had recently switched sides to the Congress party.

The SAD in the last few months had managed to rope in a few prominent BJP leaders into its fold, including former minister Anil Joshi. “It’s a tit-for-tat,” said a senior BJP leader while requesting anonymity. “It’s just a trailer. Many more big surprises are coming. Senior leaders from across parties are eager to join the BJP to bring Punjab back on track,” BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said.

According to a party functionary at the national capital, the BJP’s strategy for the Punjab polls is to tap the disgruntled leaders from the Congress and Akali Dal to claim ground in areas where until now it has only played the second fiddle.

Notably, BJP’s electoral strategy for Punjab after SAD parted ways with it had faced a severe setback with the farmers’ agitation that virtually made it impossible for the party leaders to come out of their houses.

According to a senior party functionary, the BJP is already in talks with some Punjabi actors who were active in the farmer agitation. Senior BJP leaders claim that Sirsa’s joining the BJP has set the tone for others to follow suit. “So far, there was reluctance to join the BJP. Now, that a prominent Sikh face has already joined the party, many more will follow. It’s a big edge for the party in the perception game,” said a former minister and core group member of the party.

Amarinder to meet

Nadda on Saturday

The BJP is already in talks with former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who is scheduled to meet BJP president JP Nadda in New Delhi on Saturday. Both the leaders, insiders say, are likely to discuss seat sharing as Amarinder has already announced to join hands with the BJP after forming his own party, Punjab Lok Congress.