Chandigarh: Political parties have intensified discussions over alliances ahead of Punjab Assembly elections. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which was earlier in alliance with the BJP, is now looking forward to contesting the upcoming polls in an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). According to Punjab, BSP President Jasvir Singh Garhi, two meetings have been held between the two parties and BSP is likely to contest the Punjab polls with SAD in 2022.
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Senior SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema has confirmed that there will be no alliance with BJP, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). "Discussions are being held continuously with the parties having the same ideology. But no final decision has been taken yet," Cheema said. However, he also made it clear that if the SAD government is formed in Punjab, then the post of Deputy Chief Minister will be given to a Dalit candidate.
Cheema's statement has made it clear that SAD wants to attract Dalit voters in Punjab with this move and for this purpose alliance with BSP can be announced anytime. Meanwhile, a senior leader of Punjab BJP and former Cabinet Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said that Akali Dal is dreaming of forming its government in the state but also spoke about the party's intention to nominate a Dalit candidate for the post of Deputy Chief Minister.
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Notably, BJP will contest on 117 seats alone and is not leaving any stone unturned to win elections. According to sources, the seat-sharing topic was discussed in the two meetings held between the SAD and the BSP. Sources said that out of 117 seats in Punjab, BSP wants to contest nearly 40 seats. Soon after the seat-sharing issue is resolved, parties are likely to announce an alliance to contest polls. Shiromani Akali Dal had decided to dissolve the alliance with BJP over the farmers' agitation against the new farm laws.
About 33 per cent vote bank in Punjab comes from the Dalit community and all the parties are playing Dalit vote cards and keeping an eye on the Dalit vote bank to win elections by promising development for the community.
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