Chandigarh: Bharatiya Janata Party has sounded the trumpet of 2024 Lok Sabha elections by announcing 195 Lok Sabha candidates from 18 states. Punjab has not been given place in the list of these 18 states. The main reason for this is said to be the lack of alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP's oldest ally in Punjab. The biggest problem in the alliance between BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal is the farmers' struggle, which is going on since February 13. Akali Dal is looking for a safe way from BJP before the alliance so that along with the sect, the face of the farmer class also remains intact. BJP also seems ready for this.
Shiromani Akali Dal has been the face of the Sikh sect and farmers in Punjab. In 2020, Akali Dal broke its alliance with BJP because of three agricultural laws. Shiromani Akali Dal did not like breaking the alliance. In the 2022 assembly elections, the party was reduced to only three seats. The alliance talks between the two parties regarding the Lok Sabha elections had reached their peak and both the farmer organizations had started agitation in Punjab on issues like MSP, pension to farmers. On February 13, Sukhbir had reached Delhi to finalize the alliance.
Akali Dal is not taking threat of alliance
Amidst the farmers' struggle, Shiromani Akali Dal is not daring to take the risk of alliance with BJP because it fears that the alliance will send a wrong message to the rural areas. This is the reason why Shiromani Akali Dal is looking for a safe way from BJP so that it can give the message to the farmers that it has again formed an alliance with BJP for the farmers. Because on the Panthak front, BJP has already given relief to Shiromani Akali Dal. Keeping in view the possibilities of alliance, BJP has postponed the elections of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Committee. On the other hand, the Maharashtra government blocked the changes made to the Takht Sri Hazur Sahib Nanded (Maharashtra) Act 1956. Now Shiromani Akali Dal is looking for a safe path with BJP on the issue of farmers.
On the other hand, BJP is also ready for this. It was started by BJP state president Sunil Jakhar on Sunday. Jakhar raised questions on the struggle of farmers. He says that when MSP is implemented in Punjab then what is the point of struggle? After all, why are the farmers of Punjab sitting on the border and our soldiers are dying? The important thing is that BJP was not silent since the farmers' struggle started. On the other hand, with the announcement of candidates for 195 Lok Sabha seats, BJP has come forward aggressively, so that the obstacles to the Akali-BJP alliance can be removed as soon as possible.