Choosing between friend and neighbour

Since Badal’s alliance with the BJP was nationwide, he had to clarify publicly though meekly, that the Akali Dal would support the BJP in Haryana. His clarification came after Sukhbir Singh Badal had announced support to Chautala at an INLD rally organised to celebrate four years of formation of the Chautala government. Yet, Badal did not make an effort to support the BJP and continued supporting Chautala, which led to a divide in the Haryana unit of his party and forced the BJP to request Badal in writing to support the party in the May 10 polls.

The two political families have been friends for long. Former deputy prime minister Devi Lal and SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal were known to be great friends and participated in morchas and rallies together in the region. No family or political get together was considered complete unless represented by both the families. Badals made their properties in Haryana, a sprawling farm house at Balasar in Sirsa and a health spa in Gurgaon on the land allotted by the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC).

The two families were known to come to the rescue of each other in times of crisis. Badal found a safe refuge only in Haryana during the 2002 SGPC elections when Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh seemed to have been bent upon helping anti-Badal group in the SGPC elections.

No wonder that Badals are avoiding coming out openly for the BJP even after having a nation-wide alliance with the party.

Sukhdev Singh Gobindgarh, president of the breakaway Akali Dal in Haryana does not mince words when he says that though Badal had announced support for BJP nation-wide but he continued to pester them to support Chautala’s candidates in Haryana.

The BJP is also not comfortable in the wake of Badal’s double standards in supporting Chautala. Badal’s recent acknowledgement of Chautala’s ehsans on him forced the party president Ganeshi Lal to shoot a letter to him to support the BJP in the state. ‘‘I have written to him to support us in national interest. His reply is awaited,’’ he said.

Though BJP leaders are worried over Badal’s behind scene attempts to help Chautala out during this crisis yet they try to maintain a brave face. ‘‘There’s nothing such as backroom sympathy. In politics one has to join either one side or the other, openly and vocally,’’ said the BJP chief adding that the party was waiting for Badal’s reply to involve him actively in campaigning.