Bharatiya Janata Party, which was dreaming of forming government in Punjab after victory in West Bengal, has suffered a big setback in Punjab. The deposits of the party’s candidates have been confiscated on most of the seats. In such a situation, questions are being raised on the party’s strategy. Votes were cast on a total of 1977 seats in these elections, including all the seats including Municipal Corporation and Nagar Panchayats. These included 8 municipal corporations, 75 city councils and 20 nagar panchayats. Most of the parties had fielded candidates on their party symbols and the result was in favor of Aam Aadmi Party. BJP got only 172 seats.
- AAP – 958
- Congress – 397
- Others – 251
- Akali Dal – 192
- BJP – 172
- BSP – 7
Also read: Punjab Congress is not improving, continues to sulk before 2027 elections, fights among themselves
BJP’s poor performance
Bharatiya Janata Party has performed poorly in these elections. Even though the party leaders are showing off their victory on some seats in these elections, despite all the efforts of the party, the party remained at fifth position. The deposits of more than 1100 candidates of the party were also confiscated. However, good news has also come for the party from some places. The party has performed well in Abohar. Along with this, the party has also had a strong performance in Pathankot and has increased its strength in Fazilka also. BJP is claiming to form the government but these elections have exposed the claims of the party.
Akali also performed poorly
Shiromani Akali Dal is also trying to return to power in Punjab after a decade. Party chief Sukhbir Badal is campaigning on a large scale in Punjab and is touring the entire Punjab, but his party has also not been able to perform as per expectations. The party has won only 192 seats. The party has been able to register victory in only a few parts and is not emerging as a major force anywhere.
If BJP-Akali had come together, there would have been change.
BJP and Akali Dal have been contesting elections with each other for decades in Punjab. In 2020, due to farmer laws, Akali Dal parted ways with BJP and started opposing the central government. Since then both parties have suffered losses. In the 2022 assembly elections, both the parties remained in Sinhala digits. Apart from this, both the parties performed poorly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which directly benefited the Congress Party and the Aam Aadmi Party. Akali Dal got only one Lok Sabha seat and BJP did not get even a single seat.
If BJP and Akali Dal had come together in the local body elections, there could have been an upheaval in many places. Together, both the parties would have emerged as a big force and would have emerged as an alternative to the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. If the seats of both the parties are combined then they are less than the Congress party but if both had fought together then they could have become the main opposition force against the Aam Aadmi Party.
Also read: BJP lags behind Akali and IND in Punjab civic elections, why is Modi magic ineffective?
Will there be an alliance in 2027?
Talk of alliance between BJP and Akali Dal is common in Punjab but BJP has made it clear that it will contest elections alone in Punjab. Although politics is a game of possibilities, at present alliance is not being discussed among the parties. Many leaders of both Akali Dal and BJP parties want an alliance but the central leadership of BJP is not in favor of the alliance. There is still some time left for the 2027 elections and if both form an alliance before the elections, then Congress and Aam Aadmi Party can emerge as an alternative.
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