BJP to reach out to Deras in Punjab

Prepping up for the Assembly polls in Punjab next year, the state unit of BJP today said it will reach out to Deras to "get their blessings" for the hustings.
"We will go to Deras ... And we will go to them openly," Punjab BJP president Vijay Sampla said here when asked whether the party will approach the Deras in the wake of Punjab polls.
"Where even four people are standing, we will meet them. They may have their issues," said Sampla, who is also a Union Minister.
Notably, political parties in Punjab woo Deras or sects near elections as many of them have a sizeable number of followers in the state. There are around 10,000 Deras in Punjab alone.

Asked about the swapping of seats with BJP's ally SAD, he said a meeting with the Akalis in this regard will soon be held.
"We will sit and decide (on swapping). There should be a consensus on what they (Akalis) want and what we want," he said. However, he evaded a reply on the number of seats to be swapped.

Notably, BJP is seeking Batala, Barnala, Garhshankar and Mansa and it is ready to leave Amritsar East, Abohar, Rajpura and Ludhiana West.
As per the alliance between SAD and BJP, the saffron party contests on 23 seats out of 117 assembly constituencies.

Asked whether the party will change its candidates in the upcoming polls, Sampla said it is the prerogative of the party high command to take a decision in this regard. "However, there may be the possibility of changing (candidates)," he said.
Asked whether BJP will also ask its ministers and MLAs to wear 'Lotus' badge like SAD leaders wear 'Akali' badge, Sampla said, "We will tell them that it is good if they wear the badge. But it will not be made mandatory."
However, he added that he would not wear the badge of the party symbol when attending any government meeting. "I shall wear the badge if there is a political meeting," he said.

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Meanwhile, Sampla said he has given a call to the party leaders and cadres to carry out a statewide 'Sampark Abhiyan' from September 25 to 30.
He said the campaign will be dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh, Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay to commemorate their 350th, 125th and 100th birth anniversaries, respectively, wherein the workers will pass on the message of unity to each and every household in the state.