BJP eyeing more seats in coming Punjab polls

Phagwara, July 31 (UNI) The BJP wants to increase its quota in seat sharing in the coming assembly polls in Punjab with alliance partner, the Shiromani Akali Dal.

''Though SAD-BJP alliance was ''strong as rock'', the BJP would definitely negotiate for more seats during detailed talks with SAD for seat sharing, likely to be held in October, after the election of the party's new state president, Punjab BJP Affairs Assistant Incharge R P Singh told newspersons here today.

Mr Singh said the election process had been initiated and membership drive was going on as part of which he was on a state-wide tour to mobilise the BJP activists.

When asked on whether BJP will object to the SAD striking alliance with some other political party, Mr Singh said, ''Our main aim was to defeat the corrupt Congress in next assembly elections at all costs.'' However, he expressed confidence that SAD will not make any poll alliance with BSP.

While reluctantly conceding that factionalism was surfacing in the BJP state unit at several levels, Mr Singh asserted that these ''family affairs of the party'' would soon be sorted out.

Replying a question about the ongoing controversy over a ''hukamnama'' issued by Shri Akal Takhat against Rashtriya Sikh Sangat and his own meeting with SAD president Parkash Singh Badal and Akal Takhat Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti at Amritsar last month, Mr Singh described the presence of Mr Vedanti as ''just incidental'' when he, along with BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu had gone to meet Mr Badal to discuss a few political matters related with the alliance.

''It was only a civil interaction with Mr Vedanti and no matter related with the Sangat was discussed at all in that meeting, '' Mr Singh said.

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