Amritsar: Despite its public announcements of contesting all 117 assembly seats in Punjab on its own, BJP could enter into a last-minute understanding with Shiromani Akali Dal and SAD (Punar Surjit) if the parties settle the contentious issue of seat-sharing, according to political experts.The 2024 Lok Sabha election results are expected to remain the key yardstick for any such negotiations.Gurjeet Singh Talwandi, president, youth wing of SAD (Punar Surjit), said BJP had led the SAD in 68 assembly segments in the Lok Sabha elections while the SAD was ahead in 49.Of these 49 seats, 15 SAD functionaries subsequently joined hands to form SAD (Punar Surjit), led by former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, while two joined AAP. Therefore, the SAD can now claim only 32 seats,” Talwandi said.The figures assume significance amid efforts to prevent further division of the traditional Akali vote. Sources said SAD has sent feelers to SAD (Punar Surjit) for a possible understanding, arguing that a divided Akali vote could directly benefit rival parties.Talwandi confirmed that a senior SAD leader had approached Giani Harpreet Singh for a possible patch-up but SAD (Punar Surjit) has demanded Sukhbir Singh Badal should step down as SAD president and formation of a presidium comprising representatives of different Akali formations with collective decision-making powers on the lines of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM).“But the SAD is not ready for Sukhbir to step down,” Talwandi said.For BJP, the public insistence on going solo could also be part of its bargaining strategy. Senior leader Jagdeep Singh said BJP would find it difficult to form a govt in Punjab on its own and that its public denial of any alliance could be aimed at keeping pressure on the SAD while it completes its constituency-level surveys.On the other hand, Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) chief spokesperson Imaan Singh Khara denied any alliance plan, saying the outfit would contest all 117 seats independently.Khara, however, said he met parallel Akal Takht Jathedar Jagtar Singh Hawara at Mandoli jail in Delhi on July 31. According to him, Hawara suggested a panthic alliance involving Waris Punjab De, SAD (Punar Surjit) and SAD (Amritsar), while also indicating that several farmer organisations could support such an arrangement.With the BJP is seeking to expand independently, the AAP and Congress are guarding their respective bases, and multiple Akali and Panthic formations competing for overlapping voters, Punjab’s electoral arithmetic is becoming increasingly fragmented, according to Jagdeep.
