Another aspect of the NDA's show of strength was that it indicated the Akali leadership's desperate attempt to garner support for the May 13 polling when voting takes place in the remaining nine of the state's 13 Lok Sabha constituencies. The important question, however, is whether the impressive 'Maha Rally' will prompt the fence sitters to vote for NDA candidates in the fifth phase of the polling on May 13.

Punjab's ruling Akali-BJP alliance is facing anti-incumbency due to various factors including its government's non-performance during its rule. Large sections of people who are disenchanted with its functioning have been expressing their anger through protests and demonstrations which often evoke police actions. The ruling leadership's desperation to stem the rot is reflected not only by the unprecedented advertisement campaigns the government and the Akali Dal have been running in the media for several weeks but also by the lightning speed with which the government decided to implement the Pay Commission's Report.

The Commission took over two and a half years to finalise its recommendations. But it took the government less than a fortnight to complete all formalities and announce its decision to implement the report. Within three days of receiving the report it set up a high-level officers committee and asked it to examine the recommendations and submit its report within a fortnight. The committee, however, completed its job within less than a week and the government decided to implement the Commission's recommendations in June after the Assembly passes the 2009-2010 budget.

An interesting aspect of the 'Maha Rally' was that it again exposed the differences that keep erupting between Punjab's ruling Akali Dal and its ally BJP.

The credit for the 'Maha Rally's' success is being given to Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister and Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal who is claimed to have organised it at the behest of the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L.K. Advani. Reports say that the state BJP wanted to be in the forefront but the Akali leadership insisted on taking credit for the 'Maha Rally'. The only concession Akali leadership gave to the BJP was to accommodate its Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia to alternate with a local Akali leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal in compering the rally.

This is not the first instance of the power struggle between the Punjab's two ruling allies. Reports have been coming about differences cropping up between the two parties and lately about the clashes taking places between their workers. This being the backdrop, an adverse poll outcome in Punjab may prompt the BJP to force the Akali leadership to re-balance the relations. (IPA)