By IANS,
Chandigarh: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday said that it had no problem with Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal becoming the chief minister of Punjab.
BJP president Rajnath Singh told media here that his party had no objections to Badal Jr. replacing his father, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
“That issue the Akali Dal has to decide. The BJP has no objection to it,” Rajnath Singh said.
The BJP, which runs an alliance government in Punjab with the Akali Dal, had earlier been opposed to Sukhbir Badal’s elevation as chief minister.
Badal Jr., who is now the deputy chief minister, is being touted to take over the reins of the state from his father.
Akali Dal sources say that the BJP leadership at the centre has agreed to Sukhbir Badal as chief minister if it (BJP) is given the deputy chief minister’s post.
The BJP, whose support is essential for the Akalis to remain in power, had been demanding the deputy chief minister’s post earlier also but the Akalis had not obliged.
Incidentally, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani Tuesday criticised the Congress for dynastic politics in promoting the Nehru-Gandhi family. He was addressing an election rally at Ambala Cantt, 45 km from here.