The BJP’s Akali Dilemma: Ally Or An Unnecessary Liability?

The BJP finds itself at a crossroads as it weighs the potential benefits and drawbacks of an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal ahead of the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. While the state unit of the BJP is opposed to the idea, the party's central leadership is deliberating the pros and cons of this alliance.

It remains a grim reality for the BJP that it has not managed to establish sufficient strength to contest the elections independently. From 73 constituencies at stake, the BJP secured only two seats in the 2022 polls. To form the government, it would need to secure at least 59 seats. However, the BJP could aim to finish as the second-most voted party, which would be a significant achievement.

Given these limitations, the BJP may require pre- or post-poll allies to have a fighting chance of coming to power. The Congress party is currently struggling in Punjab due to internal disputes and a lack of cohesion, while the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seems to have lost its previous edge.

The Akali Dal, once a formidable force, has seen a sharp decline over the years, especially since the passing of its supreme leader, Parkash Singh Badal, in 2023. They forced the 94-year-old leader to contest from his traditional seat in the 2022 elections, only to lose by over 11,000 votes. The party's performance has been on a steady decline, winning just three seats in the last election, one more than the BJP.

The BJP's state unit perceives the Akali Dal as a potential liability, while the party's central leadership might not have a problem with the alliance if the Akalis agree to be its junior partners. However, such a scenario seems unlikely. The BJP and the Akali Dal have a long-standing alliance that predates the formation of the BJP itself. The two parties have shared a complex relationship, with periods of cooperation and conflict since they were adversaries in their earlier political alignments.