Bharatiya Janata Party will contest all 117 Assembly seats in Punjab on its own in the upcoming state elections, party national general secretary BL Santhosh said during his two-day organisational visit to the state.

Santhosh said BJP is prepared to bring political change in Punjab and form its own government after the Assembly elections, which are scheduled to take place early next year.

His statement comes amid speculation that BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal could revive their alliance after several years apart.

BL Santhosh Reviews BJP Organisation

Santhosh is visiting Punjab to assess the party's organisational strength and improve coordination among leaders and workers ahead of the elections.

During the first day of his visit, he chaired zonal meetings in Patiala and Bathinda. BJP leaders and organisational representatives from several constituencies attended the meetings.

The organisational meetings are scheduled to continue in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar. A separate meeting with the party's state general secretaries is also planned.

The meetings are aimed at strengthening the BJP's grassroots organisation and preparing its workers for the upcoming electoral contest.

BJP-SAD Alliance Speculation

Santhosh's announcement comes at a time when speculation about a possible BJP-SAD alliance has increased.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, triggering fresh discussion about whether the two parties could once again join forces for the Punjab elections.

BJP and SAD were long-standing allies before ending their partnership in 2020. SAD withdrew from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance over differences surrounding the Centre's farm laws.

Despite the latest political speculation, Santhosh's announcement indicates that BJP is currently preparing to contest the Punjab election independently.

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BJP and SAD Have Contested Elections Together

BJP and SAD had fought several Lok Sabha and Punjab Assembly elections together over the years.

The two parties contested six Lok Sabha elections together between 1998 and 2019 and five Punjab Assembly elections between 1997 and 2017.

Their alliance ended in 2020. In the 2022 Punjab Assembly election, both parties contested separately and recorded their weakest performances in the state in decades.

SAD won three seats, while BJP secured two constituencies.

In the 2017 Assembly election, when the parties were still allies, SAD won 15 seats and BJP won three.

BJP Faces Organisational Challenges

Santhosh's Punjab visit also comes amid differences within the state BJP unit following a recent organisational reshuffle.

A section of party leaders has expressed dissatisfaction and accused the state leadership of sidelining long-standing party workers.

The national leadership's meetings across Punjab are expected to focus on strengthening coordination, addressing organisational concerns and improving the party's election preparedness.

AAP Won 92 Seats in 2022

Punjab's political contest will be closely watched after the Aam Aadmi Party recorded a major victory in the 2022 Assembly election.

AAP won 92 of the state's 117 Assembly seats, while Congress secured 18 seats. SAD and BJP performed poorly after contesting the election separately.

With the next Assembly election approaching, BJP is seeking to expand its presence across the state and emerge as a stronger political force.