Did Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) actually pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) or not?

The pledge of allegiance of Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, is confirmed in the Two Sahihs, even if it occurred a few months later. This was after he had settled some resentment within himself regarding the matter. The validity of the pledge of allegiance does not require everyone to pledge allegiance; rather, it is sufficient for the people of authority (Ahl al-Hall wal-Aqd) to pledge allegiance. Ali did not display any opposition or rebellion before his pledge of allegiance. As for the narrations that mention Ali's early pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr, there is some hesitation and disagreement in their chains of narration regarding their authenticity, but they do not negate the later, confirmed pledge of allegiance. The claim of coercion in his pledge of allegiance is baseless.