BJP seeks deputy CM's post in Punjab

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has made impressive electoral gains in Punjab, has formally requested Shiromani Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal to allot the post of deputy chief minister to it.

"BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and M Venkaiah Naidu made this request to him (Badal) during a meeting, citing discussions held during their party's Parliamentary Board meeting in Delhi," a senior Akali Dal leader said.

The BJP, which could secure only three of the 23 seats it fought in the 2002 elections in Punjab, won 19 this time.

"Badal listened to them but remained silent," the Akali leader said.

In its election campaign, the BJP portrayed the SAD chief as the leader of Punjab and used its star campaigner Navjot Singh Sidhu for canvassing on behalf of the alliance. A section of the BJP, however, admits that the party has no leader to match Badal's stature, as it stakes claim to the post of deputy chief minister.

"The BJP leaders also requested discussions on other portfolios. As for the post of deputy chief minister, it is more or less symbolic," the Akali leader said.

Badal, whose party is the senior partner in the alliance, is scheduled to take oath as chief minister on Friday.