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Time of India

BJP denies alliance talks with SAD, terms it ‘baseless rumour'

Chandigarh: Terming the alliance talks between the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal a "baseless rumour spread by the Akali leadership", Punjab BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal on Sunday said there were "absolutely no talks or discussions underway for any alliance with any group of the SAD. " Responding to a question on whether there was a need for an SAD-BJP alliance on Saturday, senior SAD leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder first declined to comment, but later said: "Our aim right now is how to strengthen the SAD." He also said the SAD was the only party that could safeguard Punjab's interests. When further asked about any likely alliance with the BJP, especially when the vote percentage of both parties increases when they come together, Bhunder said: "The elections are not contested keeping in mind the percentage (of votes), but on principles." Bhunder further said the alliance could be considered if the BJP-led Centre addressed issues related to Punjab – the water dispute, Sikh prisoners, industry, opening the borders, and recruitment in the Army. The Akali leader dismissed the notion that the SAD could be a junior partner if an alliance took shape, saying: "We will remain big brother." Baliawal, in a written statement on Sunday, said: "The BJP consistently performed impressively in Punjab — from the 2022 state elections to the remarkable rise in our vote share during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Need To Kill Time On Your Computer, This Popular Strategy Game Is A Must Forge Of Empires Undo We further strengthened our position in the municipal corporation elections and delivered a strong performance in the recent byelection." "Given this clear and consistent upward trajectory, there is no question of entering into any alliance with any faction of the Akali Dal," he added. Earlier, Baliawal released a video in which he said a "rumour was being spread since yesterday by Akali leaders which suggested that we (BJP) are having talks with them (Akali Dal)." Neither Punjab BJP nor the party's central leadership was having any alliance talks with any group of the Akali Dal, he said. "There is a clear message that the BJP will contest the 2027 (Punjab) elections on its own. Sikander Singh Maluka returned to the SAD fold yesterday, and Bhunder Sahib made a statement triggering these talks, but we outrightly reject it," the BJP spokesperson added. Asserting that the BJP performed well contesting on its own in the 2022 Punjab elections, 2024 parliamentary polls, municipal corporation elections, and the byelections, Baliawal said: "We are reaching out to the villages. Our mass base is on the rise, not only in villages, but BJP is also getting strong in cities. We are contesting the Ludhiana (West) bypoll strongly, and we are hopeful we will win this seat. We will contest the 2027 Punjab elections on our own and will form the govt. " MSID:: 121863748 413 |