The appointment of Rajouri Backyard MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa, 52, a Sikh by religion, as a Cupboard minister in Delhi is being seen in political circles as an effort by the BJP to win the assist of voters in Punjab.
Two different Sikhs, Arvinder Singh Pretty from Gandhi Nagar and Tarwinder Singh Marwaha from Jungpur additionally received as BJP candidates within the Delhi Meeting polls held earlier this month.
Quickly after Sirsa’s appointment, Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira took to X, taking a swipe on the Aam Aadmi Occasion (AAP), “If BJP can provide illustration to a Sikh as Minister, I urge Arvind Kejriwal to make clear why he didn’t induct a Sikh as Minister in the course of the 10 years of his authorities although Sikhs in addition to being a minority group play a significant position in Delhi.”
Harjeet Singh Grewal, Member, Nationwide Government Committee, BJP, instructed The Indian Categorical, “Punjab voters are watching each improvement very keenly and they’re how the BJP is giving illustration to the Sikh voices within the Delhi authorities. Within the absence of the Shiromani Akali Dal, the BJP outperformed in Delhi and Sikh voters instantly related with it… voters in Punjab are additionally connecting with the BJP regularly… And within the 2027 Punjab Meeting polls, its final result shall be seen to every one.”
Punjab BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal stated, “Illustration given to Sikhs in Delhi or Uttar Pradesh is certainly sending a powerful message in Punjab. Sikhs of Delhi have many points… Now they’ve a voice for them within the Vidhan Sabha. The BJP has achieved so many issues for the group like opening the Kartarpur Sahib hall and celebrating Veer Bal Diwas in Indian embassies, amongst different issues. Individuals in Punjab are watching every thing and it’ll have a particular influence.”
Paramjit Singh Sarna, Delhi president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), nonetheless, stated, “Sirsa’s appointment as cupboard minister in Delhi received’t have any influence in Punjab in any respect…”
The person on the centre of consideration, Sirsa, himself was within the SAD not too way back. He commonly shared the dais with SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and the Late Parkash Singh Badal till December 2021.
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Sirsa had received as an SAD candidate from Rajouri Backyard in 2013 however misplaced the seat to AAP’s Jarnail Singh in 2015. In 2017, nonetheless, Jarnail Singh resigned from Rajouri Backyard so as to contest from Lambi constituency in Punjab in opposition to Parkash Singh Badal. Within the consequent bypoll held in Rajouri Backyard in 2017, Sirsa received by over 14,000 votes. He had contested on the BJP image regardless of being within the SAD, as a part of an alliance settlement between the 2 events. Sirsa was elected because the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Administration Committee in 2013, 2017, and once more in 2021. He even acted as an officer on particular obligation to the previous Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal. After switching to the BJP, he grew to become the get together’s nationwide normal secretary in August 2023.
“Virtually all the highest management of the SAD in Delhi switched to the BJP after Sirsa joined the get together… Maybe this was the rationale for the SAD to avoid Delhi polls this time. Earlier, they used to contest in alliance with the BJP on 4 seats – three on the BJP image and one on SAD image,” stated a BJP chief on the situation of anonymity.
In the meantime, a number of organisational adjustments are on the playing cards within the Punjab BJP unit because the get together’s state president Sunil Jakhar has submitted his resignation. Former BJP ally SAD can also be battling infighting in Punjab, however solely time will inform whether or not the saffron get together can acquire out of this political churning.
