Chandigarh: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit in Punjab on Wednesday formed the opposition in Punjab’s municipal corporations without the support of its former ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) after 27 years.
Analysts said the move marks a new chapter in BJP’s political journey in the state, where it had traditionally contested elections in alliance with SAD.
BJP Punjab’s State General Secretary Rakesh Rathour announced the appointment of leaders and deputy leaders of opposition in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar, and Phagwara municipal corporations. This development signals the party’s increasing focus on asserting itself independently in Punjab’s urban political landscape.
The decision comes after BJP’s break with SAD, a partnership that dominated Punjab’s political scene for decades. With the municipal elections often serving as a barometer for state politics, BJP’s move is seen as an effort to expand its base and challenge regional forces on its own.