BJP to form govt if it wins 35 plus seats: Hardeep Puri

PK Jaiswar

Amritsar, February 18

Hinting at the post-poll alliance, Union Minister Hardeep Puri today said the BJP would form a government in Punjab if it wins half of the seats.

“The BJP is contesting on 73 Assembly constituencies and if we win half of them (i.e 35+), we will form the government in Punjab,” he said. BJP’s alliance partners, Punjab Lok Congress formed by former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa’s SAD (Sanyukt), is fighting on remaining 44 seats.

Clarifying further, he said it all depends on the scenario that comes up after poll results. “We are value-based political party. With the platform we have, we are not junior partners. People could join us after breaking away from their parties,” he said.

As the campaigning ended today, the senior BJP leader said a press conference targeting AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal and the Congress government in Punjab also raked up Operation Bluestar and anti-Sikh riots Delhi.

He said how the Kejriwal government that opened liquor vends in every nook and corner of the national capital, could end drug menace in Punjab, while adding that he was supporting Khalistani elements and even Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, banned organisation Sikhs for justice had asked the people of Punjab to vote for AAP.

On the Congress, he said the grand old party was not facing ‘infighting’, but it is fighting a civil war within it. He said the anti-Sikh riots were not riots as there was no group on the other side. It was ill-designs on the then Congress government.

He said it was a great opportunity for the people of Punjab by getting rid of mafia rules and eradicating drug menace from the border state by voting the BJP to power.

“We will take action against drug mafia within two months after coming to the power by taking intelligence-based operations and putting big fish behind the bars. He said it would also implement each and every promise made in the manifesto.