Turncoats will create a favourable atmosphere for party in Punjab, hopes BJP

The BJP in Punjab is hoping that the joining of so many leaders from the opposition camp will help create a favourable atmosphere for it in the upcoming assembly polls. Earlier this year, leaders jumping ship to join the saffron brigade helped the party secure 77 seats in West Bengal assembly polls as compared to its earlier three.

Though the joining of turncoats does not ensure victory, it creates a positive atmosphere in BJP's favour, said a senior party functionary. "When so many leaders from the opposition camp join a particular party, common voters believe that public sentiment is with that particular party, which helps in winning more seats and also increasing the vote share," he said.

Everyone knows that all those who joined recently will not get a ticket or win the poll, said another. But a large number of Trinamool Congress leaders joined the BJP earlier, and though a few could not win despite contesting, it helped the party increase its strength in the state, he added.

Similarly in Punjab, the turncoats will establish the right-wing party as a political force to reckon with, he said. "Currently we are a party with three MLAs in the Punjab assembly, and our presence is only in the urban pockets. With the joining of leaders from different parties, regions and backgrounds we will make our presence felt across the state. We have created an organisational structure across the state after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) broke its alliance with us. These new leaders further strengthen our party and organisation in Punjab," he said.

While three leaders from the SAD and one from the Congress joined the BJP on Wednesday, former Indian cricketer Dinesh Mongia, two Congress MLAs and 13 others joined them on Tuesday.