MC Poll: Anger over Agnipath in Haryana may singe BJP-JJP

Pradeep Sharma

Chandigarh, June 17

The BJP-JJP alliance may face the heat of the anti-Agnipath protests in the June 19 municipal elections.

With the protests against the new recruitment scheme spreading to more parts of the state, the going may get tough for the alliance candidates. Besides, the anti-incumbency against the BJP-JJP government and a strong challenge posed by the Opposition, especially the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), may upset the BJP-JJP applecart in the MC polls.

While the BJP-JJP and AAP are fighting elections on party symbols, the Congress is not contesting the polls on the party symbol. Congressmen, however, are fighting the elections as Independents.

With the protests threatening to snowball into a major embarrassment for the government, the AAP has decided to cash in on the people’s sentiments against the BJP-JJP alliance. “Joining the Army is not merely a job for the Haryanvi youth. It is a matter of dignity and honour for them to serve the nation. The Agnipath scheme reflects the anti-youth sentiments of the BJP government,” alleged Sushil Gupta, Haryana AAP in-charge. Saying that Agnipath’s launch was “ill-timed”, a senior BJP leader conceded that the decision could have serious consequences for the party in the MC polls with the khaps and farm activists joining the protests.

The BJP leadership is worried that the current Agnipath protests could take the shape of the farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws, when it had received much flak from the civil society.

Since the coalition partners had earlier decided to contest MC elections separately and then went in for a joint fight, they are now having trouble in certain MCs with more than one candidate from the alliance fighting the elections for the posts of president. In fact, different candidates are backed by different leaders of the alliances, which could split the voters and benefit the rival candidates.

‘Ill-timed launch’

• Protest is threatening to snowball into a major embarrassment for govt
• It may upset the BJP-JJP applecart in the June 19 MC polls
• A senior BJP leader says launch is ‘ill-timed’ and can have serious consequences for party
• AAP is trying to cash in on protests against the govt