Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has formed an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. This turn of events comes after SAD broke ties with BJP last year over the Centre's contentious farm bills.
Announcing the new alliance, Sukhbir Singh Badal said that both the parties have come together to work for the farmers and Dalits. He also said thanked Mayawati's BSP for coming forward and work for the people of Punjab.
"It's a new day in Punjab politics." said Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD President
"Out of 117 seats, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to contest on 20 seats, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to contest the remaining 97 seats": Sukhbir Singh Badal, SAD President
Few minutes before the formal announcement SAD MLA NK Sharma said "Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and BSP are coming together once again and we are going to sweep the elections in Punjab."
SAD MP Naresh Gujral reportedly held talks with Satish Mishra, All India General Secretary of the BSP, on Friday. A senior SAD leader said they will announce an alliance on Saturday high.
“It will be the beginning of a new socio-political movement not just in Punjab but also in the country where minorities and under-privileged classes will come together on one platform,” he said,
SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said the party’s core committee had been discussing about the new alliance.
“The party president Sukhbir Singh Badal is keen on a head-start for the 2022 elections due to which talks with like-minded parties were on for past few months.”
Jasvir Garhi, state president of the BSP said the party’s national president Mayawati was authorized to speak on the issue.
The Akali Dal and BSP are joining hands 27 years after the 1996 Lok Sabha elections when their alliance had bagged 11 out of 13 seats in Punjab. The Mayawati-led BSP had then won all three seats it had contested while the Akali Dal won eight out of 10 seats.