Chandigarh, Feb. 15 -- The fresh round of farmers' agitation, which has come right before the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule, is set to pose a major challenge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab that is already struggling to win the confidence of Sikhs, a majority of whom are agriculturists.

If the agitation escalates, BJP leaders are worried they may be faced with the same hostilities that they endured during the 13-month-long stir against farm laws in 2020-21, when farmers had even barred the entry of saffron party leaders in their villagers.

In an attempt to mend fences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not just announced the withdrawal of farm laws on the occasion of Guru Nanak's birth anniversary on Nove...