Akali Dal Signals Alliance Revival With BJP Ahead of 2027 Punjab Polls

Speculation over a possible reunion between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with senior Akali leaders openly supporting the idea of reviving the former alliance. However, the BJP has made it clear that any future arrangement would have to reflect its growing political strength in the state. The party is seeking a “bigger brother” position, which could mean a larger share of Assembly seats and potentially a claim to the chief minister’s post. The development marks a significant shift from the earlier alliance structure between the two parties.

SAD general secretary Bikram Singh Majithia said an alliance with the BJP was the “need of the hour” for Punjab, arguing that voters could benefit from the two parties joining hands again. His remarks came shortly after similar signals from SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal during a party gathering in Sangrur. Majithia said the previous alliance had played an important role in Punjab and suggested that changing political circumstances required the parties to reconsider their positions. He also pointed to issues such as law and order, communal harmony and national security while making the case for cooperation.

The possibility of a renewed alliance gained further momentum following a recent meeting between SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting was notable because the two leaders had not held such a meeting for several years. The SAD and BJP had shared power and contested elections together in Punjab for decades before their relationship deteriorated over the farm laws. Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the Union Cabinet in 2020, after which the Akali Dal withdrew from the BJP-led alliance. Their separation was followed by a major decline in the electoral fortunes of both parties in the 2022 Assembly elections.

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The BJP, however, is approaching the possibility of an alliance from a position of greater confidence. Punjab BJP vice-president Fateh Jang Bajwa said the party was preparing to contest all 117 Assembly constituencies and would consider an alliance only if the BJP received the “bigger brother” role. According to him, the BJP's organisational network has expanded substantially at the grassroots level, reducing its dependence on an alliance. He indicated that a bigger role would involve a greater number of seats and could also include the party staking a claim to lead the state government if the alliance succeeds.

Electoral data has strengthened the BJP's argument for a larger role. In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party recorded a sweeping victory, while the SAD won only three seats and the BJP secured two. The BJP subsequently improved its vote share considerably in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, polling 18.56 per cent in Punjab despite failing to win a seat. The SAD recorded a 13.42 per cent vote share and retained the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency. Political observers believe the figures demonstrate both parties' challenges when operating separately, while also highlighting the BJP's growing electoral base in the state.

The latest signals from Harsimrat Kaur Badal have added to the speculation, although neither the SAD nor BJP has officially confirmed that a formal alliance has been finalised. Speaking at a party conference in Sangrur, she suggested that developments would become clearer soon and referred to the possibility of agreements helping Punjab's development. A renewed partnership could potentially provide the SAD with greater political support while allowing the BJP to expand its influence through an alliance with a party that has a long-standing presence among sections of Punjab's electorate. For now, the central issue remains seat-sharing and leadership, with the BJP's demand for a bigger role likely to be a key factor in determining whether the two parties can reach an agreement.

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