Punjab debacles to base erosion, Amritpal Singh: Why BJP, Akalis keep alliance option open

On the second day of his Punjab tour, BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh addressed the state BJP's zonal meeting in Ludhiana. He criticized the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership, stating that the leaders who lost in Delhi are now running Punjab, causing the state's development to come to a standstill.

Santhosh highlighted that the industrial sector in Punjab is experiencing large-scale migration, as opposed to the development and progress taking place in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which he described as showcasing industrial growth.

Santhosh reiterated the BJP's resolve to drive the AAP out of Punjab, as well as the importance of saving the state. Backroom talks on an alliance between the BJP and the Sukhbir Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) continue, but no formal agreement has been made yet. Both parties are aware of the need for an alliance to be formidable, as the SAD is desperate for one, and the BJP knows it cannot win power in the border state without a strong partner.

The rise of Amritpal Singh, the Akali Dal's chief, who is currently in jail in Assam's Dibrugarh, has created a challenge for Sukhbir Badal. A significant portion of the panthic votes, which form the core base of the SAD, might shift to Amritpal Singh. The buzz about a renewed alignment between the BJP and the Akali Dal intensified when Sukhbir Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi during the recent monsoon session of Parliament.

Despite discussions, there are differences within the BJP on the alliance question. Some argue that the Akali votes are not likely to be transferred to the BJP, while others believe that an alliance could still be beneficial. The SAD has only one Lok Sabha MP, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, while the BJP seeks her support for the Modi government's bid to muster a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, along with a delimitation Bill for expanding the House to 850 members.