BJP to contest alone in Punjab Lok Sabha elections

• BJP announces it will contest all 13 seats in Punjab independently, dispelling speculation of an alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)
• BJP state president, Sunil Jakhar, confirms the decision citing feedback from people and party workers, emphasizing BJP's achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership
• Talks for a BJP-SAD alliance had been ongoing, but SAD's conditions regarding MSP and captive Sikhs complicated the discussions, leading to BJP's decision to contest solo

The electoral landscape for Punjab's Lok Sabha elections has crystallized as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) declared its decision to contest independently on all 13 seats in the state, putting an end to speculation surrounding a potential alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). BJP's state president, Sunil Jakhar, took to social media to announce the party's stance, highlighting the feedback received from both the public and party members. Jakhar underscored BJP's track record, particularly its efforts in ensuring minimum support price (MSP) for farmers' produce under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

While talks had been ongoing between BJP and SAD regarding a possible alliance, SAD's insistence on various conditions such as MSP and issues related to captive Sikhs posed significant hurdles. The core committee of SAD prioritized principles over political considerations, thwarting the prospects of an alliance. With the alliance picture now clear, Congress braces to compete directly with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had previously declared its intent to contest all seats independently and has already released its initial candidate list.