Patiala (Gurpreet Singh)— The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ruled out entering into an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, announcing that the party will contest all 117 assembly constituencies independently.
Addressing party leaders and workers during a zonal organizational meeting in Patiala, BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh stated that the party is preparing to form the next government in the state on its own. Santhosh noted that the electorate in Punjab is seeking political change and asserted that the BJP’s organizational framework is gearing up to mobilize voters down to the booth level.
The announcement comes after weeks of intense political speculation regarding a potential reunion between the former allies, which was fueled by recent interactions between SAD leadership and senior central leaders in New Delhi. Statements from senior Akali Dal leaders had previously suggested an openness toward realigning with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to protect regional stability.
The long-standing partnership between the BJP and the SAD had dissolved in September 2020 following disagreements over central farm legislation. Both parties subsequently contested recent assembly and parliamentary elections independently. State party leaders reaffirmed that organizational efforts are focused strictly on consolidating the BJP’s independent presence across all 23 districts.
Santhosh is conducting a series of zonal review meetings across Patiala, Bathinda, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Amritsar to assess grassroots election readiness and coordinate outreach regarding central government initiatives. The decision to contest independently sets the stage for a multi-cornered electoral contest among major political contenders in the state.
