http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081010/haryana.htm
Lok Sabha Elections
BJP to have alliance with INLD, state leaders told
Chandigarh, October 9
Brushing aside opposition by the Haryana unit, the BJP high command has made up its mind to contest the next Lok Sabha elections in the state in alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal of Om Prakash Chautala.
The high command’s decision was conveyed to office-bearers of the Haryana BJP at a meeting they had with party president Rajnath Singh and party general secretary in charge of the state Vijay Goel in Delhi yesterday. While the meeting with Goel was held at the party office at 11 Ashoka Road, that with Rajnath Singh was held at his residence.
Before the Haryana leaders met Rajnath Singh, Goel briefed them for about 20 minutes. He reportedly told them that the high command, too, had its ears and eyes and it had to take decisions in the overall interest of the party. Some decisions might be unpopular and bitter, but they had to be taken like a bitter medicine for the overall health of the party.
Sources say yesterday’s meetings were convened by the high command. The purpose was not to seek the views of the state leaders, whose opposition to an alliance with the INLD is no secret, but to intimate the party decision to them. There was no debate or argument after Goel had spoken to the Haryana leaders. The meeting with Rajnath Singh was a mere formality after that. A formal decision is likely to be announced by the BJP parliamentary board after its next meeting.
Though no details of the terms of the alliance with the INLD were disclosed to the Haryana leaders, it is expected that while the BJP would contest six of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the INLD would contest the remaining four. Thus, the INLD would concede the status of being the major partner to the BJP as far as the Lok Sabha elections are concerned. However, it is not known if the BJP would return the favour to the INLD in the assembly elections, which are due in 2010. The sources say in view of the strong opposition by its state unit, the BJP has decided to formalise its alliance with the INLD at present for the Lok Sabha elections alone. The arrangement for the assembly elections will be discussed only after the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP is likely to contest the Ambala, Karnal, Sonepat, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Rohtak Lok Sabha seats. The Kurukshetra, Bhiwani, Sirsa and Hisar seats will be left for the INLD.
The sources say for some time the BJP toyed with the idea of a “tripartite arrangement” with the INLD and the Haryana Janhit Congress of Kuldeep Bishnoi. But the formula was firmly shot down by Bishnoi, who refused to have any truck with the INLD.
Lok Sabha Elections
BJP to have alliance with INLD, state leaders told
Chandigarh, October 9
Brushing aside opposition by the Haryana unit, the BJP high command has made up its mind to contest the next Lok Sabha elections in the state in alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal of Om Prakash Chautala.
The high command’s decision was conveyed to office-bearers of the Haryana BJP at a meeting they had with party president Rajnath Singh and party general secretary in charge of the state Vijay Goel in Delhi yesterday. While the meeting with Goel was held at the party office at 11 Ashoka Road, that with Rajnath Singh was held at his residence.
Before the Haryana leaders met Rajnath Singh, Goel briefed them for about 20 minutes. He reportedly told them that the high command, too, had its ears and eyes and it had to take decisions in the overall interest of the party. Some decisions might be unpopular and bitter, but they had to be taken like a bitter medicine for the overall health of the party.
Sources say yesterday’s meetings were convened by the high command. The purpose was not to seek the views of the state leaders, whose opposition to an alliance with the INLD is no secret, but to intimate the party decision to them. There was no debate or argument after Goel had spoken to the Haryana leaders. The meeting with Rajnath Singh was a mere formality after that. A formal decision is likely to be announced by the BJP parliamentary board after its next meeting.
Though no details of the terms of the alliance with the INLD were disclosed to the Haryana leaders, it is expected that while the BJP would contest six of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the INLD would contest the remaining four. Thus, the INLD would concede the status of being the major partner to the BJP as far as the Lok Sabha elections are concerned. However, it is not known if the BJP would return the favour to the INLD in the assembly elections, which are due in 2010. The sources say in view of the strong opposition by its state unit, the BJP has decided to formalise its alliance with the INLD at present for the Lok Sabha elections alone. The arrangement for the assembly elections will be discussed only after the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP is likely to contest the Ambala, Karnal, Sonepat, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Rohtak Lok Sabha seats. The Kurukshetra, Bhiwani, Sirsa and Hisar seats will be left for the INLD.
The sources say for some time the BJP toyed with the idea of a “tripartite arrangement” with the INLD and the Haryana Janhit Congress of Kuldeep Bishnoi. But the formula was firmly shot down by Bishnoi, who refused to have any truck with the INLD.