Ludhiana: Faced with a recharged congress and a third front under Sanja Morcha, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has been able to turn the tables on its opponents by announcing the merger of Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) with it to boost electoral prospects that are just a few months away.
Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, president of LBP, in the presence of chief minister Prakash Singh Badal and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday at Badowal had announced merger of his party with SAD.
Terming it as ‘home coming’ Ramoowalia, a former union minister, before joining the party expressed faith in the policies being pursued by the ruling party.
Speaking on the occasion chief minister Badal said, “merger of LBP with SAD would strengthen the party and together would ensure the defeat of congress.â€
Laying the blame on congress for depriving Punjab of its due share in river waters, of its capital, and inflicted deep wounds on the Sikh psyche by launching operation blue star and the massacre of 1984 anti Sikh riots in Delhi, Badal said that the opposition party had caused immense damage to the state by intruding into even its religious affairs directly or indirectly.
Ramoowalia, a spent force – Amarinder
Chandigarh: Launching a broadside at the Badal’s over merger of LBP with SAD, congress president Capt. Amarinder Singh said here today that it was a desperate gamble by chief minister Prakash Singh Badal trying to cling to power.
“Clinging to Ramoowalia for retaining power is such and desperate act,†he said.
Terming Ramoowalia as a spent force, Amarinder said that Badal’s plight was amplified by the very fact that neither of them were sure from which seat to contest the upcoming election.
LBP has been a non starter party, he said. In the 2002 election the party got just 1.17 percent votes which dropped to just 0.36 percent in the 2007 poll.
Hollows of Sukbir Badal’s claims can be gauged from these facts as Ramoowalia’s presence in state politics is negligible,†said Amarinder.
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