In a significant political move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has declared its intention to contest all 13 seats in Punjab independently, effectively closing the door on any potential alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). This announcement comes after prolonged speculation about SAD’s potential return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), setting the stage for a four-cornered contest in the state.
According to sources, the decision follows the failure to reach an agreement on core demands put forth by the SAD. Despite last-minute efforts by BJP chief JP Nadda, discussions with SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal remained unfruitful. The deadlock stemmed from SAD’s insistence on specific demands, including the relocation of Sikh prisoners from Assam’s Dibrugarh to Punjab, a demand which BJP found untenable.
State BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, in a video statement on social media, emphasized that the decision to contest independently was made after extensive consultations with stakeholders, considering the state’s future, especially the welfare of its youth and farmers. Jakhar reiterated the BJP’s commitment to public welfare initiatives under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The breakdown in talks between BJP and SAD underscores deep-rooted disagreements, particularly concerning issues such as the withdrawal of cases against farmers from the 2020-2021 protests and assurances on minimum support prices for various crops.
The rift between SAD and NDA dates back to 2020 when SAD parted ways over disagreements regarding the contentious farm bills. Despite attempts to reconcile, differences persisted, culminating in SAD’s decision to exit the alliance.
With the political landscape in Punjab now poised for a multi-cornered contest, both the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress are also gearing up to contest independently. The upcoming electoral battle is expected to be closely watched as parties vie for supremacy in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.