Airing grievances in public yet again senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on Wednesday accused the Shiromani Akali Dal flouting the “coalition dharma” while taking important policy decisions in Punjab.
The saffron party’s senior most functionary in government, industries and local government minister Manoranjan Kalia has lamented that “the Akali Dal is continuously ignoring us while taking decisions on pertinent matters including many developmental projects that were started in the state.” The minister also complained that “constituencies and areas represented by the BJP are being ignored.”
Mr Kalia was stoutly seconded by the fiery and according to some, controversial Punjab health minister Ms Lakshmi Kanta Chawla who said she had “not been consulted” in the appointment in the recent appointment of the chairman of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation.
Ms Chawla, who was recently in news as being one of the few legislators who openly opposed the hike in MPs’ salaries and perks, also said her official communications to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal were returned without comment.
“Badal sahib sent back the letter in which I had sought the repatriation of 80 doctors who have been on deputation to Chandigarh for more than five years,” she said insisting this was despite that these doctors were essential to improving the health infrastructure in Punjab.
Political analysts however said the BJP outburst is nothing new and hardly significant considering the fact that the party has stuck on in the coalition government in the face of far worse provocation in the past including the SAD’s refusal to name Mr Kalia as deputy chief minister alongside Mr Sukhbir Badal.