According to sources, the alliance talks are underway and discussions over seat sharing is gloing on, with BJP seeking a significantly larger share of the 117 Assembly seats this time.
Sources said BJP is eyeing around 45 seats or more in the upcoming Assembly elections and this would mark a major shift from the earlier seat-sharing arrangement, under which SAD had contested the larger share of seats while BJP fought on a smaller number.
The BJP's argument is reportedly based on its electoral performance in the previous elections and although the party did not win a large number of seats, its candidates finished second or third in several constituencies where they contested and now the party is now looking to convert that vote presence into a larger number of seats.
The exact constituency-wise division has not yet been finalised, and discussions are reportedly taking place over which seats each party will contest.
Sources indicate that the discussions are being handled primarily at the BJP's central leadership level, rather than by the Punjab state unit.
Recently, Patil met Sukhbir Badal, with the alliance roadmap reportedly discussed between the two leaders.
The BJP's central leadership has also held meetings on Punjab. Nitin Nabin recently met senior party leaders, with Punjab organisation in-charge Satish Poonia participating. BJP organisation general secretary B. L. Santosh is also understood to have presented a report based on his recent Punjab tour.
The proposed alliance comes after both parties contested elections separately and saw their political influence weaken.
The BJP and SAD had been allies for nearly 25 years before their relationship broke down during the farmers' movement and since then, both parties have attempted to build their independent political bases in Punjab, however, sources say the two parties have now recognised that their votes can get divided when they fight separately, benefiting other political parties.
The alliance is therefore being viewed as an attempt to combine the two parties' organisational networks and voter bases and emerge as a stronger alternative to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress.
The BJP's calculations have also reportedly changed following its protests and political developments in Punjab and according to an analysis referred to by sources, the BJP's vote share has declined by around 6% following CJP's recent political agitation.
This has added to the party's realisation that an alliance with SAD could strengthen its position in the state.
The emergence of Amritpal Singh and his political outfit is another factor being considered in the BJP's calculations and his growing political presence could potentially create a challenge for the BJP among sections of Punjab's electorate.
An alliance with SAD could allow the BJP to combine its support among sections of Hindu voters, including upper-caste Hindu voters, with the Akali Dal's traditional Sikh and rural support base.
If the BJP-SAD alliance materialises, the biggest political challenge could be for the Aam Aadmi Party, which currently governs Punjab.
A combined BJP-SAD contest could consolidate opposition votes that were previously divided between the two parties and this could make the 2027 electoral contest more competitive, particularly in constituencies where the two parties have previously maintained separate vote bases.
The BJP's return to an alliance with SAD could also have implications beyond the election campaign, particularly if the party eventually forms the government in Punjab. Opposition leaders and government functionaries could face increased scrutiny from central investigative agencies.
The developments also put pressure on the Congress, which will need to strengthen its organisation ahead of the Assembly elections and
with the BJP and SAD working towards a possible alliance and the AAP preparing to defend its government, Congress will have to address its own organisational and internal challenges.
For now, the BJP-SAD alliance appears to be moving towards a formal announcement, with September emerging as a possible timeline and the larger question remains the final seat-sharing formula, particularly whether BJP's demand for around 45 seats will be accepted and which constituencies will be allocated to each party.