In a new blow to ties between Punjab's ruling coalition, the BJP on Tuesday took its anger against the Akali Dal over the recent panchayat elections to the streets. BJP supporters targeted buses owned by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s Dabwali Transport Company and tore apart posters ‘‘lauding’’ the achievements of Akali leaders.

Carrying lathis, BJP workers led by both the urban and rural chiefs of the party — Narinder Mittal and Dyal Sodhi — raised anti-Akali Dal slogans and accused Sukhbir of indulging in hooliganism. They demanded registration of a case against two Akali leaders, one of them a sitting MLA.

On Monday, five BJP activists, including three prominent party leaders, had been badly thrashed by Akali supporters and had to be admitted to hospital. ‘‘We have no option but to register our protest in this manner. Our workers are being targeted at the behest of Sukhbir. The administration is acting like a puppet in his hands,’’ said BJP district media cell president Sunil Singla.

Bathinda SSP Naunihal Singh said a case had been registered. The police, however, are yet to make any arrests.

On Monday, the BJP had threatened to withdraw from the ruling coalition over the attacks on its leaders, saying it put the dignity of its workers above everything else.

Meanwhile, BJP president Rajnath Singh called upon Badal to ensure that clashes between supporters of the two parties did not occur again. ‘‘I had a telephonic chat with Badal on Monday. I asked him to see such incidents do not recur,’’ Rajnath said in New Delhi on Tuesday.

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