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No truck with SAD, BJP to go solo in Punjab polls, says Dhillon
Dhillon’s remarks came days after SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House in New Delhi on August 7, triggering speculation about a possible BJP-SAD reunion
Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party chief Kewal Singh Dhillon on Tuesday categorically ruled out any alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the upcoming assembly elections, saying the party would contest all 117 seats on its own.
“There is no alliance of any kind. We have candidates for all seats and will contest the elections solo,” said Dhillon during a press conference at the party headquarters here.
Dhillon’s remarks came days after SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House in New Delhi on August 7, triggering speculation about a possible BJP-SAD reunion.
It was the first meeting between Sukhbir and Modi since the SAD snapped ties with the BJP in 2020 over (now repealed) three contentious farm laws, ending the 23-year-old alliance that began in 1997 and was often termed as a symbol of Hindu-Sikh unity. The alliance formed governments in Punjab in 1997, 2007 and 2012.
Since then, both parties have not held a one-on-one political meeting, although Modi had visited SAD headquarters in Chandigarh to pay last respects on the occasion of the death of former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Over the past several months, the BJP has consistently maintained that it would contest the next assembly polls in the state independently.
Both parties performed poorly in the two elections they contested separately. In the 2022 assembly polls, their first electoral contest apart in more than two decades, the SAD won only three of the 117 seats — its worst-ever performance — while the BJP managed just two. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the SAD won only one of Punjab’s 13 seats, while the BJP failed to open its account.
Dhillon also said that the party would address resentment among workers following recent organisational changes.
“The discontent was natural as the BJP was expanding its footprint in Punjab. For the first time in Punjab, we are contesting so many seats. When the family grows, resentment is natural. But we will take all our colleagues along,” he said, ruling out any change in the new state team announced a few days ago.
“We will adjust all those leaders who are feeling left out,” he said.
Rahul ‘avoiding’ debate in Parl
Dhillon alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi only knows how to create a ruckus, but when given an opportunity to debate serious issues in Parliament, he runs away from discussion.
“Every minute of Parliament’s time and every rupee of people’s money is precious. Disrupting parliamentary proceedings and wasting public money and valuable time reflects the irresponsible politics of the Congress,” he said. Dhillon also said that while Gandhi has been repeatedly demanding answers from home minister Amit Shah, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju made it clear on Monday that Shah was ready to answer every question on every issue in Parliament.
“Despite this, the Congress walked out of the House instead of participating in a debate, which clearly shows that Gandhi and his party are not interested in resolving issues, but only in creating a political drama,” he said.
He also slammed AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that the party, which is in power in Punjab, uses force whenever students, farmers or teachers take to the streets demanding their rights.
Ex-Akali MLA Kotfatta joins BJP
Former Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Darshan Singh Kotfatta joined the BJP on Tuesday in the presence of state unit chief Dhillon.
Dhillon welcomed Kotfatta, a former legislator from the Bathinda Rural seat, and his supporters to the party fold. He said people from different sections of society are joining the BJP, impressed by its growing popularity in Punjab and the “people-oriented policies of the Central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
