After the breakdown of the SAD-BSP alliance in Punjab, talks about Shiromani Akali Dal’s inclusion in the BJP-led NDA are going on. However, the ongoing protests by Punjab-based farmers against the BJP-led government at the Center have created uncertainties in the alliance talks between the saffron party and its longtime ally, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). While discussions for a pre-Lok Sabha election alliance were progressing, focusing on seat distribution, the farmers’ protests, crucial for Punjab’s vote bank, have prompted SAD to request more time. Insiders from both parties have revealed that the initial round of discussions between their leaders occurred in the last week of January, and it is anticipated that another round will take place shortly.
However, the initial talks failed as the SAD was not happy with the proposed seat distribution, in which the BJP demanded six seats, leaving the rest seven for the Akali Dal. However, due to the farmers’ Delhi Chalo Andolan, the talks between both parties have halted as of now. It is expected that after the BJP’s national council meeting from February 16–18, a clearer picture of the alliance will emerge. The two-decade alliance between Akali Dal and the BJP ended in 2021 due to differences over the farm laws, leading to SAD’s support for the farmers’ agitation. SAD MP Harsimrat Badal resigned from the Union cabinet. Badal has also postponed the party’s ongoing ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’ in solidarity with the farmers’ demand for a law guaranteeing the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural products.
With the AAP posing a challenge to the SAD after its victory in the 2022 assembly elections, SAD leaders are mindful of the need for an alliance to strengthen their position in Punjab. The SAD has been working towards a political revival since losing power in 2017 due to the sacrilege issue of Guru Granth Sahib, revered as a living guru by Sikhs. Sources indicate that the SAD aims to stick to the previous formula, proposing to contest 10 of the 13 Lok Sabha seats and allocating three (Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar) for the BJP. However, the BJP, aiming for a more substantial role, is unwilling to be a “junior partner” and seeks additional seats, citing widespread support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Recognizing that its strength in Punjab increases in urban areas through an alliance with the SAD, the BJP is keen on securing a more favorable seat-sharing arrangement. If negotiations proceed smoothly, the seat-sharing formula may be finalized in the coming days. Leaders from both parties have maintained decorum and are not commenting much on each other, while SAD chief Sukhbir Badal welcomed PM Modi’s one nation, one election proposal. These things suggest that something is cooking up between both parties.