BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are likely to revive their alliance for the upcoming Punjab assembly polls after talks following PM Narendra Modi's meeting with SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on August 7, with both parties acknowledging it as their best electoral option despite differences over seat sharing.
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BJP and SAD previously contested the 2017 Punjab assembly polls together, with BJP fighting 23 seats and SAD 94 seats. Their alliance derailed in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls due to inflexibility over seat sharing.
Those in favour of the alliance have drawn strength from Modi’s meeting with Badal, on Aug 7, and the subsequent talks between the two parties
NEW DELHI: BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are likely to revive their alliance for the upcoming Punjab assembly polls, with both parties acknowledging that it could be their best bet despite differences, especially over seat sharing. Since PM Narendra Modi met SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Aug 7, sources said both parties have engaged in talks. BJP will take the final call and has given no public hint about an alliance. Some Punjab functionaries said both parties had shown more pragmatism than in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when their inflexibility derailed talks. Sources said ironing out the details of the alliance would prove more difficult than reaching an agreement on the alliance itself.
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Akali Dal is expected to remain the senior partner, but BJP is seeking a major increase in its seat share from the 2017 assembly polls, besides a bigger role in any future govt. BJP's vote share has risen since it began fighting elections alone, helped by the induction of several regional leaders from different parties. It crossed 18.5% in 2024, against nearly 13.5% for SAD. SAD and BJP fought 94 and 23 seats, respectively, when they contested the 2017 polls together. There is wide acknowledgement that the old equation no longer holds after a string of setbacks for SAD. The key question is how the two parties define the new alliance.
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AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
BJP and SAD will finalize their alliance for the Punjab assembly polls
Likely · Within weeks
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