No tie-up with Akali Dal, BJP to fight 2027 election alone: Bittu

Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday reiterated that the BJP was in no mood to share the Shiromani Akali Dal’s past burden and would go solo in the 2027 Assembly elections.

Talking to mediapersons here, Bittu said, “The party had independently contested the 2022 Assembly elections, the 2024 parliamentary poll and the by-elections since 2022. It can again contest independently. Votes do not matter. The BJP is gaining traction in Punjab.”

The Minister of State said the BJP was working to accelerate development works in the state. When asked about state BJP president Sunil Jakhar favouring the BJP-SAD alliance, he said it was his personal opinion. “We are not here to share the Akali drug or sacrilege taint. I have been sent to ensure development in the state,” he added.

On Panjab University students’ protest for Senate elections, he said the dates would be announced soon. “The Vice Chancellor has sent the file to the Chancellor for announcement of the dates,” he said.

Accusing the state government of not giving its share of financial contribution to run the university, he said the education standards had lowered at the university, no new courses were being run and no new teaching faculty had been recruited in the affiliated colleges. He questioned the presence on non-students during the protest at Panjab University.

“Every time there is protest, be it farmers’ issue, pollution in Budha Dariya or matter concerning students, the same set of people converge to evoke emotions,” the Minister of State said.