The BJP appears to be divided over the ongoing alliance talks with the Shiromani Akali Dal ahead of the fast-approaching Punjab Assembly elections. While the state unit of the party is opposed to joining hands with the Akalis, the party’s central leadership is weighing the pros and cons of this.

BJP Faces Uphill Battle

The bitter truth remains that the BJP has not yet gained enough strength to think of coming to power in the state on its own. Having contested 73 of the 117 seats at stake and winning just two in 2022, the BJP will need more than a miracle to win the minimum 59 seats required to form the government. While dreaming big, the BJP should ideally aim to finish second, which, if it does, will be a big achievement for it.

With this limitation, the BJP may need pre- or post-poll allies to have a shot at power. The Congress party is struggling in the state with internal disputes and being in total disarray, and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s magic is not expected to be as strong as it was in the 2022 elections. The larger question remains whether an alliance with the Akali Dal would benefit it at all.

The Akalis are now a pale shadow of their mighty past, more so since the death of their supreme leader, Parkash Singh Badal, in 2023. The party forced the ageing........

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