New Delhi: In a possible first step by the BJP towards eventually snapping ties with its Punjab ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, the saffron party’s state unit on Monday joined the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party in demanding the resignation or removal of state revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia to ensure a “free and fair probe” into his alleged involvement in a multi-crore international drug scam.

Mr Majithia is Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s brother. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has, however, said he will not ask Mr Majithia to resign.

Ms Harsimrat Kaur is the wife of Mr Badal’s son and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. During the Lok Sabha elections, incidentally, it was Mr Majthia who was entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the victory of finance minister Arun Jaitley in Amritsar, considered his (Majithia’s) stronghold.

Mr Jaitley, however, lost by a margin of over one lakh votes to the Congress’ Capt. Amarinder Singh. Sensing that the Akalis are “rapidly losing their base in Punjab”, the BJP started preparing for the “divorce”, a leader said.