The BJP has announced that it would contest the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab on its own, denying all reports of an alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Polling for 13 seats in Punjab will be held on June 1.
According to party's state unit chief Sunil Jakha, the decision was taken by the BJP following feedback from people and party workers. "The BJP is going to contest the Lok Sabha elections alone in Punjab," Jakhar said on X. "The works done by the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are not hidden from anyone," Jakhar said. The BJP leader also added that in the last 10 years, the produce of farmers was procured at minimum support price.
There were reports that the BJP might ally with Shiromani Akali Dal again for the upcoming elections like it did in 2019. During the last Lok Sabha elections, the two parties contested together but did not fare well. While the Congress won eight seats despite the Modi wave, the remaining five were won by the BJP, SAD and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). However, the alliance fell through during the protest against now-repealed farm laws in 2020.
With the farmers' protest continuing, the SAD was reluctant to tie up with the BJP. The high-level meeting of the SAD held last week had discussed the issue. "The political situation of the state where everything happening at the national level will also be thoroughly discussed in the core committee," SAD's Daljit Singh Cheema told reporters before the meeting.
After the core committee meeting, the SAD issued a resolution listing issues, policies, and principles on which it will go to the people of Punjab to seek a mandate in the Lok Sabha polls. "The party will continue to put principles above politics and it will never deviate from its historic role as a champion of the interests of 'Khalsa Panth', all minorities and Punjabis," the resolution said.
"At the same time, we will continue to devote all our energies towards preserving the atmosphere of peace and communal harmony based on the vision of 'Sarbat da Bhala' (blessings for all)," it added.
This hinted that SAD was swaying from its late Parkash Singh Badal’s 24-year policy of "unconditional support" to the BJP which the party followed from 1996 to 2020. The SAD's stance was met with support from its support base, who were reportedly wary of the BJP's Hindutva stance.
The erosion of its support base during the last elections also forced the SAD to rethink its alliance plans with the BJP, considering that the party leaders have been strongly raising the issue of Sikh prisoners. The Friday resolution too demanded the release of 'Bandi Singhs' (Sikh prisoners), which they claim are lodged in different prisons despite having completed their jail sentences.
