As Punjab BJP chief makes emotive pitch for alliance revival, mixed reactions from Akali side

Indian Express

22-07-2025

There is a fresh buzz around a possible revival of the ties between the Sukhbir Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP, long-term allies who fell apart during the farm law protests.
The speculation isn't new. Last year too, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, talks of a SAD-BJP revival had gained traction in political circles. Back then, BJP state president Sunil Jakhar had said 'if the SAD-BJP alliance happens, it will be as per the emotion of masses'.
However, the parties eventually decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections independently amid fresh farmers' protests on the Punjab-Haryana border, with the BJP-led Central government under fire for holding out on the demand for legally guaranteed minimum support prices (MSP).
As the 2027 Assembly elections in Punjab draw near, the conversation around the alliance has returned, with Jakhar this time reiterating the need for a SAD-BJP partnership. 'The alliance in the state is the need of the hour as forces inimical to Punjab are once again active,' said Jakhar.
Making an emotive pitch for the alliance, Jakhar said, 'Punjab is not just a state — it's a deeply emotional and self-respecting society. Punjabis are resilient, proud of their history, and driven by sentiment. But over time, they feel they have been wronged, their sacrifices unrecognised, and their contributions overlooked. They seek more than financial packages… They seek recognition, respect, and a sense of belonging.'
'Pagri means not only turban, but also symbolises 'sardari' — self-esteem. The people of Punjab need a party that speaks from the heart, not just as administrators but as one of their own. That's where the BJP needs to position itself — with young, credible, honest, and uncompromised leaders who represent the spirit of Punjab. Our focus should not be about electoral gains, but gaining the trust of Punjabis,' Jakhar added.
However, not all on the Akali side have welcomed the idea. While leaders of a rebel SAD faction dismissed the alliance proposal, the Sukhbir Badal-led party took a cautious line.
Daljeet Singh Cheema, a former state minister and senior leader in the Sukhbir-led SAD, said, 'Jakhar sahab's statement reflects public sentiment and his personal political experience. We too sense this sentiment — rural and urban Punjab both desire a stable and secular government. However, whether or not an alliance is formed will be decided on the party platform after evaluating many factors.'
However, Charanjeet Singh Brar, a senior leader from the rebel faction of the SAD that has aligned with the Akal Takht (which is the highest seat of Sikh temporal authority and had last year held Sukhbir guilty of religious misconduct), questioned Jakhar's eagerness. 'Why is Sunil Jakhar in such a hurry for an alliance when the Akali Dal is at its all-time low? What about unresolved issues — the control of gurdwara committees in Haryana and Delhi, Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences but remain in jail, and the pending Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections for over 15 years?' Brar said.
A senior leader from the same rebel faction, speaking on condition of anonymity, also challenged Jakhar's contention that the 'public sentiment and political situation is similar to that of 1996', the year the SAD and BJP first came together. 'How can Jakhar equate the 1996 conditions with today? Back then, the SAD was strong and the BJP was emerging. Now, the SAD is at its weakest while the BJP is at its peak nationally. Is this eagerness for an alliance with the Akali Dal or the Badal family?' the leader said.
The SAD-BJP alliance was first forged in 1996, at a time when Punjab was recovering from a period of Khalistani militancy. In the 1997 state elections, the alliance won a thumping majority with 95 seats in the 117-member Assembly.
After the alliance broke in 2020, the parties contested the 2022 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls independently, but neither tasted success. Though the BJP's vote share has improved over the years, it has not translated into seats. Since falling out of power in 2017, the SAD's influence and vote bank have eroded as it faced a series of controversies – from the sacrilege cases in 2015 to last year's standoff between Sukhbir and the Akal Takht. In the 2022 Assembly polls, the SAD and BJP won three and two seats respectively. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the SAD won only one seat while the BJP failed to win any. In subsequent bypolls too, the two parties failed to make an impact.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said they were not worrying about the old allies coming together. Neel Garg, senior AAP spokesperson, said, 'Zero plus zero equals zero. Since 1996, when the alliance was formed, Punjab has seen a downfall in farming, panthic norms, and federal values. The Akali Dal hit rock bottom due to incidents like the Bargari sacrilege, where culprits were never arrested. The BJP's role in pushing the three farm laws led to the loss of over 750 farmers' lives. Punjab hasn't forgotten and won't forgive.'
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring echoed the AAP's sentiments. 'Sunil Jakhar has a hidden alliance with the Akali Dal already… Why did the BJP break the alliance with the SAD in the first place? Earlier they thought they could do something on their own in Punjab, and now that they are being shown the ground realities by voters … they have started remembering communal harmony all of a sudden. The Akali Dal is already dead and hence zero plus zero is equal to zero only.'