Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, The Induction of renowned industrialist Rajinder Gupta of the Trident group as the party General Secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal is a master stroke and part of the strategic planning by Deputy Chief Minister and party President Sukhbir Singh Badal who has the reputation of moving several steps ahead of the political adversaries.
With this move, Sukhbir has taken the experiment of social engineering that he initiated in the last Assembly elections to a new height. For the first time, the party had given to so many non-Sikhs, eleven of whom made it to the Assembly, in the last election. It was a new milestone in the glorious history of this second oldest political party which is identified with protecting the interests of Punjab and the Punjabis.
Gupta had set up his first big unit in Barnala district and he himself belongs to the Malwa region. His appointment as the General Secretary would go a long way in further strengthening the party base in this region which is known to be the traditional support base of the Akali Dal. For the last several more than three decades, the Akali Dal has witnessed the domination of the leaders from the Malwa belt.
Yet at another level, this would trigger positive signals so far as attracting industrial investment in this state is concerned. Of late, the Deputy Chief Minister has been focussing on attracting investment as the farm sector is already facing stagnation. Further growth of this border state suffering from locational disadvantage may not be possible without boost to industrialisation. This step taken by the Shiromani Akali Dal chief sends out positive signals in this context. Gupta has also been entrusted with the responsibility of the office of the vice-chairman, state planning board.
It may be mentioned that earlier, Sukhbir had been instrumental in the appointment of yet another big industrialist Kamal Oswal as Adviser to the Chief Minister.
It is too well known that every party or organisation has to evolve in tune with the changing situation to save itself from getting fossilised but few leaders are known for making new adjustments in tune with the times. Accordingly, Sukhbir’s effort has been to keep on giving a new look to the Akali Dal while keeping the party rooted in its age old tradition of articulating popular will and safeguarding the interests of Punjab. The aim of the Akali Dal has never been to just win elections but play a positive role in the socio-economic life of the people.
In this context, the move to bring in Gupta by Sukhbir as General Secretary of the Akali Dal would go a long way in the party shaping political dynamics of Punjab.
