Now that the ruling Akali Dal has decided to have an electoral pact with the INLD, preferring to “ignore” its state ally, the BJP, the campaigning in Haryana by Akali leaders is bound to create heartburn within the alliance.

The pact with the INLD will require the SAD leaders to campaign against the BJP candidates in Haryana. As canvassing picks up, many of the Akali ministers will seek votes for the INLD candidates. Both long-established allies, the SAD and the BJP, may prefer to downplay this impending situation, where one ally condemns the other on account of political compulsions of the alliance, the condition is more discomforting for the BJP. The BJP in Haryana could not forge a tie-up with the INLD. Upon that the party finds its trusted ally, SAD, of no use to it during the elections; it instead sees it as an opponent.

The Akali Dal has bargained for just two seats in Haryana. A more or less same situation is expected to arise when the Punjab BJP leaders, including ministers, campaign in Haryana. They will campaign against the INLD candidates, being supported by SAD. The saffron party’s ace campaigners, including Navjot Singh Sidhu, whom the SAD used to the hilt in the Punjab elections for campaigning, will not canvass for the SAD candidates on the two seats from Ambala City and Kallianwali (SC) in Sirsa.

The SAD and Punjab BJP leaders are making sure to avoid a situation where they are face to face in the same constituency singing different tunes, say sources. Talking to The Indian Express, SAD secretary Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, who’s also the political advisor to Punjab Chief Minister, said, “The alliance with the INLD was on the basis of the aspirations of the Haryana unit of the Akali Dal. Our ministers will also campaign in constituencies other than the two where the SAD candidates are contesting.” He said it would not affect its relationship with the BJP in Punjab.

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