Bathinda: While the BJP is keeping its cards close to its chest, senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) functionaries have begun openly advocating a revival of the alliance between the two parties.The debate over a possible reunion, which gained momentum after SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Aug 7, has now expanded within the party. The discussion intensified after Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal endorsed the idea while addressing a conference at Longowal held to mark the 41st death anniversary of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal. Senior Akali leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia later backed her remarks.Former minister Sikandar Singh Maluka has also been publicly supporting the alliance for some time.Addressing the gathering at Longowal on Aug 20, Harsimrat said, “Let the Almighty bless us, provide us the might, such alliances should happen again which aided progress and welfare in Punjab through cooperation with Delhi.”Though she did not directly name the BJP, the context of her remarks and slogans raised by party workers made it clear she was referring to the Akali Dal’s former ally.Endorsing her stand, Majithia said SAD and BJP had worked together successfully in the past. “Atal Bihari Vajpayee strengthened this alliance, which continued during Narendra Modi’s tenure. We parted ways over the farm laws, but given Punjab’s status as a border state and the need for social and communal harmony, people want the two parties to come together again. Whether and when that happens will be decided by the leadership of both parties, but what Harsimrat Badal expressed reflects public sentiment,” he said.Maluka echoed similar views. “I have been saying for a long time that people want an alliance between SAD and BJP. They have tested Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party and are once again looking towards SAD and BJP to jointly lead Punjab’s development,” he said.BJP leaders, however, have refrained from publicly commenting on the prospect of an alliance and continue to maintain that the party is preparing to contest all 117 assembly seats in Punjab on its own.
