What was the key difference between the Congress and the Akalis in terms of Dalit support?

Congress had more support from Dalits, regardless of religion.

The Congress party received more support from the Dalit segment, irrespective of whether they were Hindu or Sikh, compared to the Akali party.

Following the reorganization of Punjab in 1966, the Akali Party attained power in both 1967 and 1977 through coalition governments. Despite the territorial adjustments, their political footing was still uncertain. Their administration faced setbacks as the Central authority prematurely dissolved it during its tenure. Additionally, they encountered limitations in garnering a substantial endorsement from the Hindu population. Furthermore, the Sikh community, similar to other religious groups, displayed internal divisions based on caste and socioeconomic strata. Notably, the Congress party managed to secure more backing from the Dalit segment, irrespective of being Hindu or Sikh, compared to the Akali party.