Chandigarh, May 11 -- As Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's cousin brother Gyan Singh Mann joins the saffron party, Bhartiya Janta Party, few months before state Assembly polls, it sends strong signals about changing shades of Punjab's politics.
Though this might be yet another set back for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab which was still recovering from the setback of seven of its ten Rajya Sabha MPs joining BJP, it displays a shift from alliance-era politics to symbolic politics.
Gyan Singh Mann joined the party in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and BJP Punjab Chief Sunil Jakhar.
It seems that the party has switched its political strategy in Punjab and is aiming am deeper political expansion by symbolism and focussed social outreach.
With the Haryana Chief Minister Saini also proactively contributing to upcoming elections through numerous outreach initiatives, BJPs switch from remaining a coalition partner in the past to an independent political party in the state seems real.
The saffron party has been primarily dependent on Shiromani Akali Dal to form government in Punjab for years.
Hitting on the pulse of the state, where family status, networking in villages often shape political narratives by bringing a relative of the Chief Minister the BJP might be successful in corroborating the internal rift regarding Bhagwant Mann's leadership in AAP.
According to news agency, the Mann-cousin has been a part of the Aam Aadmi Party and played key organisational role in Sangrur and Dhuri. He was in fact associated with the managing the campaign of Bhagwant Mann during his initial political days. Later, he has been vocal in criticising and questioning the decisions of AAP government.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.