Last week, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched its Punjab poll campaign with the recitation of the ‘Sukhmani Sahib’ at the party’s state headquarters in Chandigarh. Sukhmani Sahib, text from Guru Granth Sahib is considered auspicious to start any work. In what was seen as an effort to manage perception, the BJP had also invited a number of Sikh leaders to the party office. The picture of the event was widely circulated to send the message that the Sikh community supported the BJP. The exercise assumes significance, perhaps, for two reasons. First, the BJP has been facing a backlash from a section of the farmers’ community over the agri-reform laws. Second, the BJP is contesting the upcoming elections in Punjab without its ally of two decades, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Union minister and BJP’s election in-charge of the party for Punjab, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, his co-incharges and union ministers, Hardeep Singh Puri, Meenakshi Lekhi, were also present at the event.
