Chandigarh, May 11: While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi is busy proving “hacking” of EVMs in Punjab elections, the party faces a bigger challenge of keeping its flock of MLAs together in Punjab AAP.
Top sources in the Congress on Wednesday said some AAP legislators were in touch with them to cross over. “Some AAP MLAs have approached the Congress. But we already have a near two-third majority with 77 MLAs. What will be the advantage of taking them?” a senior office-bearer of the party told HT. The BJP, too, has claimed that a chunk of AAP legislators is trying to defect to it.
The Congress believes that as it increases its footprint in the country, it is the BJP that would be the most likely contender for the poaching game. “The BJP does not want to continue in the present arrangement. It would only get more uncomfortable once senior Badal (former CM Parkash Singh Badal) retires from active politics. So the BJP is scouting for MLAs to take on not only the Congress and Kejriwal but also its own ally, the SAD. For the BJP, it is a fight to stay relevant in Punjab,” a state BJP leader said.
News source: http://www.hindustantimes.com
