The possibility of a renewed alliance between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has once again become a major talking point in Punjab politics. The speculation gained momentum after SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament, followed by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s remarks in Sangrur that “people will soon know” what lies ahead. While neither leader confirmed a pre-poll pact for the 2027 Punjab Assembly election, the sequence of events has triggered debate over whether two former allies are preparing for a political reunion after years of separation.
From Long-Time Allies to Bitter Separation
The SAD and BJP shared one of India’s longest-running political partnerships, governing Punjab together in 1997, 2007 and 2012. Their alliance rested on a complementary social base—the SAD’s rural Sikh and Jat Sikh support and the BJP’s urban Hindu vote bank.
The partnership collapsed in September 2020 when the SAD exited the National Democratic Alliance in protest against the Centre’s three farm laws. Although the laws were later repealed after prolonged farmers’ protests, political trust between the two parties remained strained.
Why Reunion Is Being Discussed Now
Both parties have struggled electorally since contesting separately. In the 2022 Assembly election, the SAD secured only three seats, while the BJP managed two. The 2024 Lok Sabha election proved equally disappointing: the BJP failed to win a single seat, and the SAD retained only Bathinda through Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
These results have strengthened the argument that divided opposition votes may continue to benefit the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), making tactical cooperation more attractive.
Harsimrat’s emphasis on building “agreements” with Delhi appears aimed at portraying closer ties with the Centre as a pathway to development, investment and infrastructure rather than a retreat from Punjab’s political interests.
What Both Parties Stand to Gain
For the SAD, reconnecting with the BJP could restore access to the Centre, strengthen organisational capacity and broaden its electoral coalition. It could also help the party rebuild relevance after years of declining influence.
The BJP, meanwhile, could benefit from the SAD’s established rural network, Sikh identity and traditional presence across Punjab. Despite increasing its vote share in recent elections, the BJP has struggled to convert support into seats. At the same time, the party has repeatedly expressed its ambition to contest all 117 Assembly constituencies independently, creating uncertainty over any future seat-sharing arrangement.
AAP and Congress Turn Up the Political Heat
The meeting between Modi and Sukhbir provided fresh ammunition to political rivals. AAP leaders dismissed the development as evidence of a “secret understanding” between the BJP and the Badal family, arguing that both parties were attempting to revive an alliance rejected by Punjab’s voters. The party sought to reinforce its narrative that the Badals remain aligned with the BJP despite their public differences over the farm laws.
The Congress echoed similar criticism, accusing the SAD of abandoning the principles it invoked while leaving the NDA in 2020. Congress leaders argued that any reconciliation would expose what they described as political opportunism and questioned how the SAD would justify such a move to Punjab’s farming community.
Political Signals Need Electoral Substance
The Modi–Sukhbir meeting and Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s remarks undoubtedly signal renewed engagement, but they fall short of confirming a formal alliance. Difficult negotiations over seat-sharing, leadership, campaign messaging and the lingering farm-law legacy remain unresolved.
As Punjab heads towards the 2027 Assembly election, a SAD-BJP reunion remains politically possible but far from certain. Whether exploratory conversations evolve into a durable partnership will depend on whether both parties can reconcile past differences with present electoral realities and convince voters that renewed cooperation serves Punjab’s interests rather than mere political arithmetic.
(With agency inputs)
