Fresh political buzz has started in Punjab after senior BJP leader and former CM of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh in his interview to a news channel, publicly suggested that the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) should reunite before the 2027 Assembly elections.
His remarks have revived an old question — can the two former allies come back together, and if they do, how will it reshape the next poll?
For now, both parties are officially non-committal. BJP leaders in Punjab have repeatedly said they are preparing to contest all seats on their own. The party believes it has expanded its network in recent years and wants to build its independent identity in the state.
SAD, meanwhile, has kept the door open for talks but has not shown urgency, saying any decision must align with the party’s core positions and the sentiments of its rural support base.
However, Amarinder’s comments have pushed the discussion back into the spotlight. He has argued that a BJP–SAD alliance would bring together two different vote banks — BJP’s urban and non-Sikh support, and SAD’s influence in rural and Sikh-majority areas. According to him, such a combination could strengthen both parties at a time when AAP holds power and Congress remains a key competitor.
Political observers, meanwhile, say that the idea of a reunion makes strategic sense on paper. The two parties once dominated Punjab politics as a coalition, and joining hands again could help consolidate votes that are currently scattered across multiple parties. A tie-up could also prevent a split in anti-AAP votes in many constituencies.
But the road back is complicated. The breakup over the farm laws still carries emotional weight among farmers and Sikh groups. Many in SAD’s core support base had strongly opposed the BJP during the agitation. Any sudden reunion may face resistance unless both parties address the issues that caused the split.
Within the BJP, too, some leaders feel the party should continue expanding independently rather than returning to an older power-sharing model.
If the alliance happens, analysts believe it could significantly change the 2027 race. A combined BJP–SAD front could emerge as a strong challenger to AAP in rural belts and to Congress in urban pockets. Their joint organisational strength, if revived, could make the contest sharper and more competitive.
If the alliance does not take shape, both parties will face separate challenges. The BJP will have to work harder to gain acceptance among rural voters, while SAD will continue trying to regain ground it lost in the last two elections. In such a scenario, AAP and Congress may benefit from the continued division of votes.
For now, the possibility of a reunion depends on behind-the-scenes talks and how both parties assess the mood of their voters ahead of 2027. The coming months will reveal whether the political chemistry that shaped Punjab for over a decade can be rebuilt, or whether both parties will choose to chart their own paths in the state’s changing political landscape.
