As the Bahujan Samaj Party its decision to go it alone in the Punjab polls,the third front headed by Peoples Party of Punjab,Manpreet Badal suffered yet another jolt in the crucial pre-poll month. Manpreet,who was hoping to emerge as an alternative to ruling Akali Dal-BJP alliance and the Congress by bringing all the other parties in the poll fray together,on Monday said the decision of the BSP is not a setback for the Morcha. We were not able to figure out the chain of command of the BSP. So we were not very hopeful of a poll-pact. I do not see it as a setback for the Sanjha Morcha, he added. Manpreet had recently said being a national party,the BSP will decide on a alliance keeping its interests in mind. The reluctance of the BSP is mainly owing to its supremo Mayawati projecting her party as a national party not subservient to any other,in any state. It came to the talking table not willing to concede the majority of seats to the Peoples Party of Punjab,which wanted the biggest pie of the Sanjha Morcha seats. Interestingly,the BSP which has been witnessing a declining voter share in past three polls,on Monday said it hopes to gain from the Sanjha Morcha factor in Punjab polls. The coordination committee of the Morcha comprising left parties CPI,CPM,Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal) will meet on Thursday,December 28,to finalise the list of candidates for the January polls.
