'BJP loss in Punjab municipal polls not linked to farm laws': Tomar

The ruling Congress in Punjab has swept the municipal polls in the state winning most of the wards in the eight municipal corporations.

Updated on: Feb 18, 2021, 22:52:20 IST

By Utpal Parashar, Guwahati

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Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday said that the loss of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recent municipal polls in Punjab should not be linked to the three farm laws introduced by Centre and the ongoing agitation by farmers against them.

Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Guwahati, Assam. (ANI)

“It would be incorrect to link the Punjab municipal polls with the farmers’ agitation. Our party was weak in Punjab and we had a tie-up with Shiromani Akali Dal there. This time both the parties contested the polls separately and it resulted in a loss for us,” he said in Guwahati during a press conference.

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The ruling Congress in Punjab has swept the municipal polls in the state winning most of the wards in the eight municipal corporations.

“With regards to the farmers’ agitation, I have been in regular talks with the Kisan Union. The Central government is ready for a clause by clause talks on the farm laws and if anything is against the interest of the farmers, we are ready to discuss it,” the minister said.

Tomar, who’s the BJP’s election in-charge for the upcoming assembly polls in the state in April-May, predicted a win for the party due to the policies of the incumbent state government in the past five years.

“In Assam, instead of anti-incumbency, there’s pro-incumbency in favour of the ruling BJP government. I am confident that the party will form a government again in the state,” Tomar said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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