Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
By : Samriti Sharma
The possibility of a renewed alliance between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab has gained momentum, with sources indicating that a formal announcement could be made after Diwali at a rally in Bathinda.
According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address a rally in Bathinda after Diwali, where leaders of both parties are expected to share the stage. The rally could become the platform for announcing a renewed political understanding between the two former allies ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Sources said discussions between the SAD and BJP are currently underway over seat-sharing arrangements. The BJP is reportedly seeking to contest around half of the 117 Assembly seats, signalling a demand for a significantly larger share than it received under the previous alliance arrangement.
Meanwhile, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has also refrained from ruling out an alliance with the BJP. During two separate statements in Chandigarh, Badal described the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress as his party's staunch political opponents. He said the doors for an alliance remain open for parties with which the SAD shares ideological similarities.
SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has also dropped hints about the possibility of a political understanding during a public rally, adding to speculation about the two parties coming together again.
The alliance talks gained further attention after Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his statements in Delhi and Chandigarh, spoke about the formation of an NDA government in Punjab in 2027. His remarks have added to the speculation surrounding a possible SAD-BJP reunion.
However, seat-sharing remains a key issue in the ongoing discussions. According to BJP sources, the party wants an equal partnership this time, rather than the arrangement followed during its previous alliance with the Akali Dal.
The SAD and BJP remained alliance partners from 1997 to 2017. Under their earlier seat-sharing formula, the BJP contested 23 of the total 117 Assembly seats, while the Akali Dal fielded candidates in the remaining 94 constituencies.
If the proposed alliance materialises, it would mark a major shift in the political understanding between the two parties, particularly in terms of seat distribution. Both parties are yet to make an official announcement on the proposed alliance.
