Lok Sabha elections 2019: BJP likely to fall short of majority, says SAD MP Naresh Gujral
“The BJP may fall short of absolute majority but a stable coalition government will be formed by the NDA in which all allies will get a true representation in the cabinet as per their seat number,” said Gujral.
With just 10 days to go for the last leg of the Lok Sabha polls, Naresh Gujral, the Rajya Sabha MP of Shiromani Akali Dal — one of the oldest allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party — on Thursday said the saffron party is likely to fall short of absolute majority.
“The BJP may fall short of absolute majority but a stable coalition government will be formed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in which all allies will get a true representation in the cabinet as per their seat number,” said Gujral, who is camping in Jalandhar to supervise the ongoing election campaign of the party.
“I am not only one who is saying it, even BJP’s senior leader Ram Madhav has predicted that party won’t get a full majority,” added Gujral. In the 543-member House, 272 is the number required to form the government. In 2014 elections, the BJP had scored a landslide win by bagging 282 seats.
Recently, Madhav, the BJP national general secretary, had said the saffron party will require support of its allies to form the next government.
Earlier, Gujral had warned the BJP over the issue of security of minorities and told it to respect the alliance partners, especially the regional parties.
“The Shiromani Akali Dal represents the farmers. So we will demand plum portfolios related to agriculture in the cabinet. We want implementation of the Swaminathan commission report so that farmers get their due share,” he said.
On the statement of Subramanian Swamy that Modi will not be next PM if the party gets 220-230 seats, Gujral said: “Whosoever the BJP elects its leader, will be acceptable to us.”
On whether Punjab Lok Sabha results will be a verdict on party president Sukhbir Singh Badal leadership, Gujral said the leader is responsible for the victory or loss. “Sukhbir has always remained at the forefront for the party. That’s why he is contesting in these elections,’ he added.
On trade stand-off with Pakistan (India has imposed a 200% import duty), Gujral said it was a short-term measure to punish Pakistan which is allowing terrorism on its soil. “Pakistan has to changed its tune and understand that terrorism and talks can’t go together,” he said.
