Barnala woos Surjeet, wants support for vice presidency

Former Punjab chief minister and senior Akali Dal leader Surjit Singh Barnala is wooing the Left parties to support him in his bid for the vice-presidency.

For several hours on Thursday, Barnala and Akali Dal general secretary Kamaljit Singh remained closeted with Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet in New Delhi.

The meeting assumes significance as the CPI-M is against supporting anyone who is aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party -- the Akali Dal-BJP combine is in power in Punjab and is aligned in Parliament too.

The BJP, sources say, is studiously avoiding support to Barnala because it fears such a move would alienate him from the United Front.

Barnala's meeting with Surjeet came about on Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan's advice. A few days ago, sources said, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had met Paswan, ostensibly to discuss the progress of railway projects in the state. He had used the occasion to canvass support for Barnala's candidature.

Paswan is reported to have asked Badal to meet Surjeet. The CPI-M, he said, would be the first to oppose Barnala's candidature as the Akali Dal had an alliance with 'communal forces.'

The relation between the Akali Dal and the CPI-M have been strained since Operation Blue Star. Barnala's meeting with Surjeet is the first high-level discussion between the two parties in the last decade.

Surjeet's response to Barnala is not known. The Communist veteran has left for England, and the Akali Dal leader would rather not talk about it.

UNI