PM Modi Meets Sukhbir Badal As Punjab Alliance Speculation Grows

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal at Parliament House in New Delhi on Friday has triggered fresh speculation about a possible political tie-up between the former allies in Punjab. The meeting comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, adding significance to the interaction at a time of increased political activity in the state.

According to sources in the Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal discussed Punjab's law and order situation with the Prime Minister and also raised other issues concerning the state. These reportedly included allegations of corruption in schemes of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. However, the meeting has drawn wider political attention because of the history between the BJP and SAD and speculation over whether the two parties could reconsider their separate paths.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal was among the first leaders to react to the meeting and publicly questioned whether the BJP and SAD were considering joining hands again. "Are the two parties coming together?" Kejriwal posted on X, bringing the possibility of an alliance into the political discourse ahead of the state election.

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The BJP and SAD had shared a nearly two-and-a-half-decade-old alliance before their relationship broke down in 2020 over the three contentious farm laws introduced by the central government. The Shiromani Akali Dal subsequently withdrew from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Since then, the two parties have contested major elections in Punjab separately, including the 2022 Assembly election and the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

For several months, BJP leaders have maintained that the party intends to contest the 2027 Punjab Assembly election independently. The party has repeatedly indicated that it is preparing to fight the state election on its own. Despite those statements, periodic interactions between senior BJP and SAD leaders have continued to generate speculation about whether the political equation could change.

Friday's meeting is therefore being closely watched for possible signals about the future relationship between the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal. While the interaction has fuelled renewed alliance speculation, there has been no official confirmation that the two parties are negotiating a political arrangement. Neither the Prime Minister's Office nor the Shiromani Akali Dal has issued an official statement on the discussions so far.

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