SAD-BJP reunion buzz ‘ends’ as Jakhar appointed state BJP chief

The joining of Sunil Jakhar as Punjab BJP chief has made many in the BJP uncomfortable. After his joining, one BJP leader even showed his public resentment outside the BJP headquarters in Chandigarh by tearing his clothes. However, all the speculation about a SAD-BJP re-alliance has been put to rest. It was even speculated that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Badal might announce his reunion with BJP in the SAD core committee meeting on Thursday. But such speculation fell flat the moment Sukhbir Badal said, “We are with BSP and there is no point in having an alliance with BJP. This alliance is in media only.”
The BJP recently appointed former Punjab Congress chief Jakhar as its state unit chief. On Thursday, Jakhar visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar along with other senior BJP leaders like Vijay Rupani, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Tarun Chugh. Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, Jakhar claimed that he will establish the party as the only alternative in all 13 Lok Sabha and 117 Assembly constituencies of Punjab. His comment assumes significance amid talks of an alliance with SAD. In other words, BJP is preparing to make such a presence in Punjab that it does not need the support of any other partner. However, Jakhar had not ruled out the possibility of an alliance with SAD till recently. He had said, “The decision about any alliance in Punjab has to be taken by the top leadership of the BJP.”
Jakhar said: “My responsibility is to strengthen BJP on 117 seats. I am trying my best to strengthen the BJP in Punjab.” However, Jakhar refrained from commenting directly on the possibility of an alliance again with the Shiromani Akali Dal, which had parted ways with the BJP in September 2020 in protest against the three farm laws, but also left the way open. According to sources, an alliance is being discussed between Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal and the BJP’s top leadership. There may be an alliance between the Akali Dal and the BJP in Punjab after about two years. However, by Thursday evening, all such speculation was put to rest. Along with Jakhar, Punjab BJP election chief and ex-CM Gujarat Vijay Rupani also said that BJP will fight elections alone in Punjab without forming an alliance with any other party and confidently mentioned that BJP will emerge victorious by contesting on 13 seats independently.
Meanwhile, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal held a meeting with party leaders on Wednesday after returning from a two-week foreign tour. The SAD formed a sub-committee to take all views on the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) into consideration and prepare a case for submission to the Law Commission.
A decision regarding this was taken at a meeting of the party’s constituency in-charges and district presidents which was presided over by SAD president Sukhbir Badal. The committee has been tasked with holding talks with constitutional experts, intellectuals and Sikh community leaders.
The meeting also passed a resolution condemning Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for humiliating and ridiculing a Gursikhs beard in Vidhan Sabha and asserted that it was part of a systematic attack on the unique identity of the Khalsa panth. The meeting also rejected the Sikh Gurdwara (Amendment) Bill, 2023, while asserting that it was a direct interference in Sikh religious affairs.
The Congress has also jumped into speculation of a reunion between the Akali Dal and BJP in Punjab. Congress Punjab chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring claimed that the two would have an alliance soon. Raja Warring said that “actually, the Akali Dal and the BJP were always together. Both parties had only done the drama of separation for show-off during the farmers’ movement”.
Raja Warring said that the BJP never separated from SAD, and the “agreement” of their alliance is already fixed. Warring said that the people of Punjab know their reality, and that is why voters will no longer trust them.