In the recent Lok Sabha polls, the BJP emerged as a significant force in Punjab despite not winning any seats, achieving a record 18.56% vote share. The party led in 23 out of 117 assembly segments, predominantly in urban areas, and displayed strong performances in 35 segments dominated by Hindu and semi-urban voters. BJP’s vote share exceeded the Shiromani Akali Dal’s by 5%.
Key constituencies where the BJP excelled include Abohar, Jalandhar Central, Ludhiana East, Amritsar Central, and Bathinda Urban. In Bathinda Urban, despite Parampal Kaur standing fourth overall, she led due to strong pro-BJP sentiments. Similarly, BJP candidates stood second in seven other constituencies, including Jalandhar West and Amritsar West.
The party’s influence extended to assembly seats with significant Hindu populations, such as Nabha, Batala, and Moga. In Sikh-majority seats like Khadoor Sahib, BJP candidates outperformed Shiromani Akali Dal in constituencies like Patti and Kapurthala. Internal assessments revealed BJP’s strong booth performance in semi-urban and small towns with notable Hindu voter bases.
State BJP chief Sunil Jakhar attributed the increased support to the “Modi magic” and the counter-consolidation triggered by farmer protests. He emphasized that the disruption caused by farmer unions led to a backlash from the business community, which felt adversely affected. Jakhar highlighted that this support spanned across communities, driven by concerns over economic disruptions rather than pure Hindu polarization.
