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In preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, talks between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have broken down, according to sources familiar with the matter. The BJP, prompted by the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) declaration of contesting all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and one in Chandigarh, adjusted its strategy, leading to the collapse of the alliance talks.

Shift in strategy following AAP's ambitious announcement

The BJP's decision to reassess its alliance strategy came after the AAP, led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, declared its intention to contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and one in Chandigarh, delivering a significant setback to the Congress party. Kejriwal further indicated that AAP would soon reveal its candidates for all 14 constituencies. This move prompted the BJP to rethink its approach to alliances in the state. 

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Pressure from SAD and the shadow of past differences

Meanwhile, sources indicate that the SAD also influenced the BJP's decision-making process, particularly concerning issues related to the farmers' movement and the release of Sikh prisoners. The late patriarch of SAD, Parkash Singh Badal, had distanced the party from the BJP in 2020 amidst the farmers' protest against the farm laws, which have since been repealed. This historical context, coupled with the current political landscape, likely contributed to the failure of the alliance talks between the BJP and SAD.

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