AMRITSAR: With Punjab assembly elections approaching, quiet backchannel discussions are reportedly exploring the possibility of an understanding between Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) , Member Parliament Amritpal Singh ,currently in jail, led Akali Dal Waris Punjab De (ADWPD) and former Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh led Shiromani Akali Dal (Reorganised), signalling a potential attempt to reunite fragmented Panthic politics.Panthic intellectual Dr. Jagdeep Singh said the development gains significance as officiating Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj has repeatedly urged divided Akali factions to unite in the larger interest of the Panth.Fragmentation had undoubtedly split the traditional Akali vote bank but not the underlying Akali ideology or support base. He argued that political compulsions and the need to revive Panthic influence could persuade dissident groups to bury differences.Jagdeep Singh observed that any meaningful unity among Akali factions could reshape the Panthic electoral landscape and alter political equations before the polls. At the same time, he said that the divided Akali factions may individually have only a limited political and electoral impact in certain constituencies, but they are unlikely to influence the entire state on their own, unlike the once-unified Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).He said this could become a compelling reason for the fragmented Akali groups to forge an alliance, keeping in mind the larger Panthic interest and the need to consolidate the traditional Akali support base ahead of the Punjab assembly elections.Former Badal led SAD and spokesperson of the prominent Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal, Sarchand Singh, said that so far the Amritpal Singh-led Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) (ADWPD) has gained prominence mainly in Punjab’s rural belt, whereas the Shiromani Akali Dal(Reorganized) has yet to make a comparable impact. At the same time, he said the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) is gradually rebuilding its organisational strength and is likely to be in a stronger position by the time it finalises the distribution of Assembly tickets.Surprisingly , the leaders of these parties are reluctant to come on record on abiding by the Akal Takht directions and the ongoing backchannel discussions on forging unity.However , seeking unanimity, they confirmed that several leaders who had left the Badal-led SAD to join either the ADWPD or the SAD (Reorganized) are likely to return to the parent party in the near future.“There have already been a couple of rounds of meetings involving leaders from the three Akali factions to explore the possibility of coming together. The unity effort has been repeatedly advocated by the officiating Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, as well as former Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh. Therefore, the Akal Takht’s appeal for unity could provide us the necessary justification to reunite and form a joint Akali front,” told sources privy to two such meetings held in the recent past.The sources further said that the possibility of a renewed alliance between the united Akali Dal and the BJP also cannot be ruled out, as they may seek to jointly challenge the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress in the upcoming assembly elections. eom
