BJP, Akali Dal hold alliance talks as Punjab battle takes shape

The BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have begun discussions on reviving their old alliance ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, with one round of talks already completed and another expected soon. The negotiations come as the BJP seeks to build on its recent electoral success in West Bengal and mount a stronger challenge in AAP-ruled Punjab.

According to sources, the next stage of discussions is expected to focus on the number of seats each party would contest and the constituencies that would fall to their respective shares. BJP leaders believe a reunion with the Akali Dal could improve the prospects of both parties in what is shaping up as a multi-cornered contest. The two parties ended their decades-old alliance in 2020 after the SAD walked out of the NDA over the Centre's three farm laws, which were subsequently repealed.

Old allies move closer

Signs of a possible reconciliation have become increasingly visible. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fuelling speculation about the revival of the partnership. Harsimrat Kaur Badal has also spoken about the possibility of political agreements, while senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia said on Friday that people wanted the two parties to come together again.

For the BJP, an alliance could help it expand beyond the urban and Hindu constituencies where it has traditionally been stronger in Punjab. The Akali Dal, meanwhile, retains a rural and Panthic base but has struggled electorally in recent years. Leaders in both camps believe combining these different support bases could make the alliance more competitive.

Seat-sharing, however, is likely to be one of the more difficult issues. The political balance between the two parties has changed considerably since they last contested Assembly elections together. The BJP, encouraged by its expanding organisation and vote share, is expected to seek a larger role than it had under the old arrangement.

AAP in BJP’s sights

The BJP is preparing to make the performance of the Aam Aadmi Party government a central issue in its Punjab campaign. Its strategy is expected to focus on allegations of corruption and shortcomings in governance while highlighting employment, healthcare, education and other issues affecting different sections of the State.

The party also plans to intensify organisational work at the constituency level and reach out to communities where it has historically had a limited presence. A partnership with the Akalis could provide an established network in rural Punjab, while the BJP could offer the alliance its national organisational strength and resources.

Punjab’s electoral contest is expected to involve AAP, Congress, the BJP and different Akali formations, making consolidation of votes particularly important. Both the BJP and SAD suffered from the fragmentation of their traditional support after contesting separately following their 2020 split.

Farm laws remain baggage

A reunion would nevertheless have to overcome the political legacy of the farmers’ agitation. The farm laws were the immediate reason for the Akali Dal leaving the NDA, and resentment over the episode significantly damaged both parties among sections of Punjab’s farming community.

The alliance also faces questions over how much of its former social coalition can be reconstructed after six years apart. The SAD has undergone internal divisions, while the BJP has attempted to establish an independent political identity in the State.

For now, discussions remain focused on whether the old partnership can be rebuilt on new terms. The first round of talks suggests that the political distance between the BJP and SAD has narrowed considerably. The harder negotiation will be over seats, leadership and the balance of power within any revived alliance.