Once foes of Akalis, three BJP leaders push for pact with SAD

Tribune News Service

Jupinderjit Singh

Chandigarh, February 9

Once bitter foes of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), especially the Badal family, Capt Amarinder Singh, Sunil Jakhar and Manpreet Badal, are playing a key role in reforging an alliance between SAD and the BJP.

Some against the alliance

The Akalis are willing to go in for seat sharing as per the wishes of the BJP. Even field workers have reported the need for such an alliance. However, the traditional BJP leaders from Punjab and the RSS are against the alliance. sources

Leaders of both parties have been laying emphasis on strengthening the Hindu-Sikh brotherhood. The pact, likely, to be announced in coming days would be based on this common factor.

The alliance would see Capt Amarinder, who’s now in the BJP, share a stage with Sukhbir Badal of SAD.

Sukhbir’s estranged cousin Manpreet, who left the Akali Dal to form the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) and later joined the Congress, only to join the BJP last year would also have a reunion with the Akalis.

Sources said Manpreet broke the ice with support of Capt Amarinder and Jakhar between the BJP and SAD.

Though Akalis had been itching for the pact, the BJP seems to have come on board following a positive report in favour of an alliance given by its three senior leaders.

In the last 10 days, the BJP central leadership and SAD leaders, including party chief Sukhbir, besides Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, BS Bhunder and Sikander Singh Maluka have held several rounds of meetings. While the Akalis remain in denial mode, sources in the BJP confirmed the meetings and “high possibility” of the pact.

“The Akalis are willing for a seat-sharing adjustment as per the wishes of the BJP. Even field workers reported the need for such an alliance. At the same time, the traditional BJP leaders from Punjab and the RSS are against the pact,” said sources, adding that these leaders argued that the BJP has a fair chances of winning some seats on its own and the party should try to build a cadre.

Sources said a section of Congress leaders, who joined the BJP, felt that they could pose a challenge to AAP, which stormed to power with a massive mandate in the 2022 Assembly poll, only through an alliance with the Akali Dal.

Sources said the BJP would contest on at least six Lok Sabha seats or even more, as the Akalis are more desperate for an alliance.

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