Whether BJP wins or loses in Haryana, casualty is likely to be SAD in Punjab

“The best case scenario for SAD in the Haryana polls is one in which a stable government is formed through a post-poll alliance between BJP and INLD. SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal can play a crucial role in creating this alliance,” the BJP leader added. Most Punjab BJP workers, who have flocked in large numbers in Haryana, are up in arms against SAD supporters openly working against its alliance partner in the neighbouring state. While senior BJP leaders, including Punjab incharge Shanta Kumar, said this exception to the SAD-BJP alliance has been ‘allowed’ by the BJP high command, party workers on the ground are finding itself poised against SAD workers in at least 30 constituencies of Haryana.

The SAD, meanwhile, has moved its workers to constituencies with a substantial Sikh population and also to those where the INLD top brass are in the fray. These include Ambala and Kallianwali (where SAD is fielding its own candidates), Kurukshetra, Karnal, Dabwali, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Jagadhari, Ladwa, Rania and Ellenabad. “Our workers are feeling the pinch here because the SAD workers are partners in Punjab. Also a large number of them are from the Youth Akali Dal and likely to use muscle power and other tactics to demoralise our workers,” said a senior BJP leader from Amritsar.

Other than workers, senior SAD leaders too – which includes almost the entire cabinet  are also camping in two Haryana constituencies where SAD candidates are in the fray as well. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal are also planning to spend the next few days till October 13 touring Haryana. While the CM will focus on Kallianwali, Sukhbir will travel across the state starting Thursday.