Chandigarh/ Punjab (May 18, 2014): The “unimpressive show” by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) in the Lok Sabha election was at the centre of discussion during the core committee meeting of the party held on the late evening of May 17 at Chandigarh.
As per media reports [t]roubled at the party losing its vote share by over 7% during current Lok Sabha elections and with urban voters having given a thumbs-down to the Badal-BJP alliance, the core committee of the Badal Dal has decided to form a three-member committee to analyse the results and voting patterns.
The committee will comprise Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Tota Singh and Mahesh Inder Grewal. It has been asked by Badal Dal chief Sukhbir Badal to prepare detailed reports on poll results. SAD general secretary Harcharan Bains said the core committee congratulated Narendra Modi on his impressive win.
Narindra Modi (L) and Parkash Singh Badal (R) [File Photo]
The SAD (Badal) has managed to win four seats and retain its tally of the 2009 Lok Sabha election, but its vote share has fallen from 33.85 per cent in 2009 to 26.3 per cent.
Compared to the 2012 Assembly election, the party’s vote share has gone down sharply from 34.73 per cent to 26.3 per cent. This election has served as a referendum on the government’s performance – a fact reportedly acknowledged in May 17 meeting.
Almost all Badal Dal contestants in the Lok Sabha election were present in the meeting.
“Sources said the core committee, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, also discussed threadbare the issues on which the voters, especially in the urban areas, have shown their resentment and rejected the party candidates”, The Tribune (TT) has reported.
With Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) winning four seats and getting 24.4 per cent of the total votes, the core committee members also decided to take into account how AAP managed such a startling performance in its debut in Punjab.