Coalition still going strong, claims state BJP president

In a damage-control exercise following the recent rift between the ruling coalition partners, state BJP chief Kamal Sharma on Friday said minor disputes between coalitions were common and the alliance in Punjab was “very strong”.

In a damage-control exercise following the recent rift between the ruling coalition partners, state BJP chief Kamal Sharma on Friday said minor disputes between coalitions were common and the alliance in Punjab was “very strong”.

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He said the recent statement by party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu was his personal view that had nothing to do with the party. “I had received a complaint from the SAD about the statement in which Sidhu had launched an attack on the present government and have forwarded it to the high command,” Sharma said.

He said the alliance partners would contest the upcoming municipal polls together. “There is no question of contesting the elections separately. Seat-sharing has not been discussed and will be done soon,” Sharma said.

Despite recent differences between the two parties, no meeting of their top leaders has taken place to clear the air. “So far, no such meeting has taken place.” the state BJP chief said.

Sharma was speaking on the sidelines of an international engineering technology and sourcing show organised by the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings here.

Sharma, along with Maheshinder Singh Grewal, political adviser to the chief minister, inaugurated the exhibition, which irrigation minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon was to open, but could not do so owing to another engagement.