No rift between BJP and SAD in Punjab: Sharma

Amid reports of strained relation with SAD, BJP today made it clear that there was no rift with Akali Dal and the alliance very much exists.
Putting to rest the speculations that BJP will break alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) after its performance in Haryana where it formed the government of its own for the first time, Punjab BJP Chief Kamal Sharma said "there is no rift between BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)... The alliance is very much there. The alliance exists."
His comment assumes significance in the back drop of BJP MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu creating a controversy by asserting that a section of party workers were unhappy with the alliance, and wanted to go alone in the next Assmebly polls.

Kaur, who had been vocal against functioning of Parkash Singh Badal government, had said "BJP workers were not being given due importance by the Akali government."
She asserted that the voice of workers on ground was that the alliance should break.
"In my opinion, the party should strengthen its base and contest elections (Assembly polls 2017) on its own," said Kaur, who holds the rank of Chief Parliamentary Secretary(CPS) in Badal government and is wife of three-time former BJP MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Sidhu too, during canvassing for party candidates in Haryana Assembly polls, sharpened his attack against Badals.

Sharma, however, termed Kaur's comment as her personal opinion.
"So far, we are not getting any feedback from party workers that the alliance should not continue," he stressed.
On being asked whether BJP will contest the 2017 Assembly polls in alliance with SAD, Sharma remained non committal over the issue.
"Let's see," he said when asked about continuance of poll pact for 2017 Assembly elections in the state.
When asked the BJP ministers in Badal cabinet at times had complained that they were allegedly not given due weightage, Sharma said "problems exists in alliance, but these are sorted out."
The SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab was passing through turbulent time as few incidents reportedly led to friction between the two allies.

In June, a senior BJP leader, had questioned Badal's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on the issue of Punjabis being stuck in Iraq without any state BJP leaders.
Badal, however, at that time had said as the head of the state every CM can meet PM and Union minister anytime as the sole motive of their meetings is to ensure welfare and development of the state.