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BJP prods Badal to woo back Chautala, Farooq
The BJP top brass has asked Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal to try and bring back some of the former NDA allies, particularly Om Prakash Chautala's INLD and Farooq Abdullah's National Conference.
The BJP top brass has asked Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal to try and bring back some of the former NDA allies, particularly Om Prakash Chautala's INLD and Farooq Abdullah's National Conference.
Badal is said to have an excellent equation with Chautala and Farooq, who campaigned for the Akali Dal in Punjab. The BJP and Akali Dal have a tie-up in the state.
Sources said the move comes in the wake of the recent exit polls, which predicted the BJP-led NDA falling short of the majority mark. Having realised the importance of smaller political outfits in the post-poll scenario, the saffron party has convinced Badal to talk to the two leaders, both of whom left the NDA before the announcement of Lok Sabha elections.
Badal, who was in Jalandhar to campaign for the party, refused to comment. "Till elections I don't want to comment on any controversial issue. The situation will become clear after the results are out," he said.
Senior Akali leaders said the request from the BJP came after the second phase of polling. The saffron party has given a "free hand" to Badal to negotiate with the leaders, with the assurance that their grievances will be sorted out after elections.
However, both Akali Dal and BJP sources said Badal had already held talks with Chautala and Farooq, requesting them to keep open the option of returning to the NDA after the elections.
"A lot will depend on the number of seats the INLD and NC win. But from the emerging trends it seems every single MP will be crucial," a senior Akali Dal leader said.
