Akalis relieved, but truck with BJP unlikely

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 19

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is relieved at the withdrawal of the central farm laws as farmers had blocked their campaign meetings a number of times.

However, it may be too late for the party to renew alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was broken over the farm laws last year.

The SAD has already forged an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The BSP is fielding candidates in 20 of the 117 seats, while the SAD has announced 83 candidates out of its share of 97. It will require a major political jugglery within the party and with the alliance partner should the Akalis decide to form a new partnership with the BJP.

Moreover, former Congress Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has already announced his new party — Punjab Lok Congress — to contest the state elections with the BJP. It is highly unlikely the Akalis will have a partnership in an alliance where the former Congress CM was also involved. Both Akalis and Capt Amarinder have been facing allegations of playing a “friendly match”.

Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal has already “ruled out” renewing alliance with the BJP even if the farm laws were repealed.

The withdrawal of the farm laws will change the tone of the campaign as the Akalis claim they have sacrificed much for the sake of the farmers.

However, party spokesperson Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema said the party leadership has already decided to keep farm issues away from vote-politics. “Supporting the farmer is a foregone conclusion for the party. There is no vote-politics about it,” he said.

Bq

Focus on other issues now

“Withdrawal of farm laws will surely change the discussion in the run-up to the polls. There will be focus on other issues now”

— Prem Singh Chandumajra, SAD senior vice-president