Unlike previous years, Punjab’s political scenario is more complex today with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yet to establish its foot in the state’s rural areas which have a massive voter base.
According to experts, the BJP generally banks on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the rural votes.
While talking to The Daily Guardian, BJP Punjab head and ex-Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, “Earlier in 2019, we were in alliance with the SAD. At that time, we fought over three seats and won two, whereas SAD fought over 10 seats and won two. This time in the Jalandhar by-poll, we fought on our own, and the margin has increased. There are many things on which we are working. We are working on strengthening our cadre base in rural areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked and has been continuously working for the welfare of the people of Punjab—be it Kartarpur Corridor or bringing 1984 culprits to book. We are making all possible efforts to make Punjabis feel comfortable and secure with us.”
As for whether SAD will join the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said that so far, situation is not clear. “So far, we are not on same page, cannot predict what tomorrow would unfold for both of us.” When asked if the BJP can win without SAD, he further replies, “BJP has no cadre in Rural area of Punjab. People here are of different mindset. Its a long rope for BJP to come in terms with Punjab and Punjabis.” Cheema has also asserted that the party will fight on all seats in alliance with BSP in 2024. “This time in Jalandhar By-poll, it was ascertained for the current government would win the seat, it was obvious but when we meet people on ground, they are annoyed with this ruling government who is busy in social media gimmicks and fake advertisements,” he added. In 2024, the state of Punjab will go for the 13 Lok Sabha seats. In the last Parliamentary polls, out of 13 seats, the Indian National Congress had won eight seats. SAD-BJP alliance had won two seats each. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had won one seat.
Punjab had elected four AAP MPs in 2014, including Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi from Patiala, Bhagwant Mann from Sangrur, Prof Sadhu Singh from Faridkot, and Harinder Singh Khalsa from Fatehgarh Sahib. However, the state unit of AAP later disintegrated with Dr. Gandhi quitting the party and Khalsa joining BJP ahead of the 2019 general elections.
In 2019, AAP had fielded candidates on all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab but only Mann could retain his seat. He remained the lone AAP MP from Punjab before vacating his seat on taking charge as the Chief Minister in 2022. However, the AAP could not retain Sangrur in the by-election held a few months later after the Assembly elections, in which the party had come to power, winning 92 of the 117 seats.
