Chandigarh, Aug. 21 -- Amid speculation over a possible alliance between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday said people in the state want the two former allies to come together, citing Punjab's status as a border state and the importance of maintaining social harmony.

Majithia recalled the longstanding political relationship between the SAD and BJP, saying the alliance had been strengthened under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, and continued during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure.

"We should understand that the Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP have worked toget...