India’s Home Minister Amit Shah was to carry out a rally in Punjab’s Patiala on 29th January 2023. The information has surfaced that the home minister has called off the rally and will not be visiting Punjab this month. Post the cancellation, there are many speculations about the reason behind this decision of his. The major sources from BJP and Vigilance Bureau have cited two main reasons for the cancellation of the rally in Patiala.
According to the BJP sources, through the Patiala rally party wanted to do something that was a game changer in the political system of the state. The decision to cancel the Punjab visit by Amit Shah came after his meeting with newly joined Manpreet Badal. Recently, Manpreet Badal who was earlier in Congress resigned from the post and joined Bhartiya Janta Party.
One of the main reasons for Patiala rally was to include former CM Capt. Amarinder Singh’s wife in BJP. The decision of including her in BJP came after there was speculation during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Punjab that Congress is thinking of removing Preneet Kaur from the party. The idea of carrying out a rally in Patiala on 29th January 2023 was given by Capt. Amarinder Singh only. There is a conjecture that many big leaders from Shiromani Akali Dal are also in plan of joining BJP. Apart from this, many other leaders from Congress can also join BJP after Manpreet Badal’s inclusion in the party. So, BJP first wants to take proper note of leaders who want to join the party and after deciding who will be included Amit Shah might conduct a proper rally in Punjab introducing them as a part of BJP.
Another main reason cited by sources for the calling off of rally was differences between various leaders inside BJP. Sarup Chand Singla, Bhatinda BJP President was not at all in favor of adding Manpreet Badal into the party because of his disputes. Sarup Chand Singla was the one who also got a complaint registered with Vigilance Bureau against Manpreet Badal. Therefore, before adding leaders from other parties to BJP, the party itself wants to sort out the internal differences.
Post the death of Jalandhar MP Santokh Chaudhary, there is a conjecture that in the coming days election of MP will take place for which BJP wants to include some strong leaders to represent their party in the city’s election. As per sources, a former police official from Dalit community in talks of getting into BJP for Jalandhar elections. Another prominent officer from Central Agency has also shown his keen interest to represent BJP in Jalandhar elections.
This time BJP is being extra careful in choosing the leaders from Punjab to be included in their party. The main reason behind this is that CM Mann recently stated that no leader would be spared if involved in corruption even if they are from BJP. Vigilance Bureau keeping in mind the same has arrested Sunder Shyam Arora in graft case. An inquiry against Gurpreet Kangar and Balwir Singh Sidhu has also been initiated.
BJP will now carry out a rally only after preparing a full proof plan to have a strong hold of Punjab.