Akali Dal became the second party to part ways with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), after Shiv Sena.
Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal announced that they were exiting the alliance over three agriculture reforms bills as the sentiments of the farmers have not been taken into account, and even the party was not consulted over the bills.
Badal announced the decision after the meeting of party's core committee in Chandigarh, and a day after the farmer bodies held protests across the country. Earlier on September 17, Sukhbir's wife and Union food processing industries minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had quit the cabinet over the same issue.
This separation is likely to have an impact on politics of Punjab. The ties between BJP and the Akalis was projected as alliance for national security and communal peace. Akali Dal represents the Sikh farmers and the rural population, while the BJP Hindus mostly in the urban areas. This ensured that Akali Dal patriarch become state chief minister for five terms, earlier with the support of Jana Sangh, and later the BJP. Parkash Singh Badal has been supportive of BJP and Narendra Modi. The Akali party was the first ones to endorse Modi as the prime ministerial candidate in 2013.
Similarly, Shiv Sena was ideological ally of the BJP till Bal Thackeray was alive. After his death as the reigns of the party passed on to his son, they decided to chart an independent course. Echoing a similar unease with the BJP, Sukhbir Badal, who heads the Akali Dal, now has taken a far more hardline stance. His decision to separate from the alliance has sent a message that he intends to show who calls the shots in the state.
The third party to independently talk about greater leverage from BJP is Lok Jan Shakti party. Since the reigns passed from Ram Vilas Paswan to his son Chirag Paswan, the latter has been blowing hot and cold. Paswan senior is unwell and in hospital.
“Whenever Shriomani Akali Dal-led government came to power in Punjab, we took everyone along for peace. Prakash Singh Badal cared for religions, and communities. We as Punjabis want peace and development for all,” Sukhbir said at a late evening press conference.
He said the new farm bills directly impact 20 lakh farmers, 20,000 commission agents, in Punjab, 15 lakh farm labour.
“When the centre brought the ordinances, we opposed it, and even when bills were brought, the Akali Dal was not consulted. Akali Dal workers knows everything about farming. Even they were not asked about it. The sensitivities and needs of the Punjab farmers were not considered in the Parliament. Though we were part of the government, Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned,” Sukhbir said, adding, “The decision has been taken in consultation with the workers. We have decided that we cannot be part of the alliance which has brought these bills.”
In fact, Sukhbir Singh Badal took his fight with the BJP a step further as he accused the party of not keeping in mind the interests of the people of the state. He cited example of Punjabi language which was earlier a recognised language in erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. But the recent bill did not include it. “The language was not recognised keeping in mind the sentiments of the Punjabi community of the region. Under these circumstances we announce separation from the NDA.”
This separation leaves the BJP on a tricky wicket in Punjab. The Congress government is already aggressive on the farm bills and may go for a legal route to circumvent the Centre's legislation, and now Akalis have taken a hardline stance. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has been needling Akalis over its alliance with the BJP.
The rumblings between the alliance partners have been on for some time now in the state. Both of them wanted to contest the elections separately so that they can extend their reach in regions not represented by them. But the leadership of the BJP at the Centre and Akalis had decided to stick together for peace and maintaining communal harmony in the border state. The regional pride and sentiments now run high in the state. Trickier still would be if the state politics takes a more religious turn.
