Pact buzz as SAD MP Naresh Gujral ‘meets’ BSP leader Satish Mishra

Jupinderjit Singh

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 11

The SAD and Mayawati-led BSP are in the final stages of talks for forging an alliance for the 2022 Assembly elections in Punjab. SAD chief Sukhbir Badal is scheduled to meet senior BSP leaders in Chandigarh tomorrow to ink the alliance.

SAD MP Naresh Gujral reportedly held talks with Satish Mishra, All India general secretary of the BSP, today. A senior SAD leader said they were likely to announce an alliance on Saturday. SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said the party’s core committee was likely to discuss the issue of alliance omorrow. “The party president is keen on a head-start for the 2022 elections due to which talks with like-minded parties are on for the past few months.” BSP state chief Jasvir Garhi said Mayawati was authorised to speak on the issue.

The Tribune had reported a series of meetings between leaders of both parties in December last year. The parties had agreed in principle to contest the elections together, but differences on sharing seats remained. Sources hinted that the BSP was demanding more seats in the Doaba belt as it had a stronger base there.

Seat-sharing plan

BSP wants 35 seats, but Akalis are reportedly offering 20. Sources say Akalis may agree on allocating 23 seats. The seats were in BJP’s quota earlier when the two parties had contested elections together.