BJP struggling to find suitable candidaters for Punjab, Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH: The BJP is unable tio name its candidates for two of three Lok Sabha seats of Punjab and one seat of Chandigarh even though the process of nominations started today. BJP is contesting three seats of Amritsar, Gurdsaspur and Hoshiarpur in alliance with SAD.

The nomination of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri from Amritsar seat has shattered the plans of local BJP leaders who were trying to seek party ticket. Puri is an outsider and has no roots in Amritsar except for his Sikh identity. Senior BJP leaders including party's senior vice president Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina was a strong contender for the party ticket. He had unsuccessfully contested last Lok Sabha bye-election.

It is expected that BJP may field film star Sunny Deol from Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat. The seat was won thrice by former actor Vinod Khanna. However PPCC president Sunil Jakhar won from Gurdaspur in bye-election held last year after the death of Vinod Khanna. Sunny Deol is also from outside the state and has no roots in Gurdaspur.

BJP is still undecided about fielding sitting MP and Union Minister Vijay Sampla from Hoshiarpur. A strong faction of BJP led by Som Parkash was opposing Sampla's nomination.
It is believed that BJP is forced to field outsider candidates due to deep factionalism in the state unit. The idea of ignoring local candidates however may prive costly for the party.