The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has formed an alliance with Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for the Punjab Assembly elections in 2022.
After breaking ties with BJP last year over the Centre’s contentious farm laws, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has formed an alliance with Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for the Punjab Assembly elections in 2022.
The Sukhbir Singh Badal-led party, with this alliance, aims to fill the gap in several seats after its split with the BJP in September last year, as per sources.
The SAD and the BSP are coming together after 27 years, since the 1996 Lok Sabha elections when their alliance had won 11 out of 13 seats in Punjab. Back then, Akalis had won 8 out of 10 seats they contested, Mayawati’s party had won all three seats it had contested.
Sukhbir Badal, who’s leading the efforts to form new alliance, announced last week that his party is open to tie-ups barring the Congress, BJP and the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
“We cannot align with these parties. We will form alliances and we are open to others. No chance to go with BJP at all,” Mr Badal had said last week.
Mayawati’s party has a significant hold over the 31% Dalit votes in the state. The concentration of the votes from Dalit community in 23 seats of the Doaba region is more significant. Dalits constitute almost 40 per cent of the population in Punjab.
Sources claim that Mayawati’s party is likely to contest from 18-20 seats the Akali Dal earlier offered BJP during its alliance.
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