‘Not the right time to answer’: Sukhbir on SAD-BJP tie-up

Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday avoided commenting directly on the possibility of an alliance with the BJP, saying the party's immediate focus was on strengthening its organisation.Responding to a question in Chandigarh on speculation about a possible SAD-BJP alliance "in the interests of Punjab", Badal said: "Right now, our aim is to strengthen the Akali Dal. This is not the right time to answer such questions."Speculation about a rapprochement between the two former allies has persisted for some time. However, senior BJP leaders, including Union home minister Amit Shah and Punjab BJP functionaries, have repeatedly stated that the party is preparing to contest future elections in Punjab on its own.The over two-decade alliance between the SAD and the BJP ended in 2020 over the Centre's now-repealed farm laws. The two parties subsequently contested the 2022 Punjab assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections separately.In the 2022 assembly elections, the SAD won three seats and the BJP two in the 117-member Punjab assembly. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the SAD won one of Punjab's 13 seats, while the BJP failed to win any.Meanwhile, a resolution adopted by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 12 years in office mentioned former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal among the leaders who helped shape the alliance nearly three decades ago.The resolution stated that the NDA was formed under the guidance of leaders including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, George Fernandes, Balasaheb Thackeray, Parkash Singh Badal and Sikandar Bakht, among others, under the common mantra of "India First".Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar said the mention of Parkash Singh Badal reflected the BJP's respect for its former ally."It is a message that the BJP values and respects the relationship it shared with Badal Sahib, irrespective of the fact that the two parties later parted ways. It shows the BJP respects the qualities of its coalition partners," Jakhar said.Sukhbir Badal also congratulated Prime Minister Modi on becoming the longest continuously serving Prime Minister of the country."The historic landmark is a testament to years of dedicated public service by the Prime Minister," he said.