The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are moving closer to reviving their political alliance ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with a formal announcement now being targeted within November. According to BJP sources, negotiations between the two former allies have entered their final stages, with discussions underway to settle the details of the proposed arrangement.
The latest development comes after earlier reports suggested that the alliance announcement could take place after Diwali. However, sources in the BJP have indicated that the declaration is unlikely to be delayed until December, as both parties are working towards completing the negotiations within the current month.
BJP Says Alliance Talks in Final Stages
Top BJP sources have confirmed that discussions with the SAD are progressing and that the proposed alliance remains on track. A senior BJP source told The Tribune that the party was already behind schedule and wanted to make the announcement before November ends.
The source also expressed confidence about the BJP's electoral plans in Punjab, saying the party aims to form the next government in the state. However, neither party has officially announced a final agreement so far.
The renewed push for an alliance follows repeated references by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the formation of an NDA government in Punjab after the 2027 Assembly elections. His remarks have fuelled speculation about a possible reunion between the two former partners.
Sukhbir Badal May Meet Amit Shah in Delhi
The next round of discussions is expected to take place in Delhi on Friday, November 13, with senior leaders from both parties likely to deliberate on the proposed alliance.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal is also expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, although there has been no official confirmation of the proposed meeting.
Meanwhile, Badal has postponed an event scheduled for Friday for the induction of senior Akali leader Bibi Jagir Kaur into the party. The development has added to speculation about the ongoing political discussions in Delhi.
Seat-Sharing Remains a Key Issue
One of the major issues being discussed between the BJP and the SAD is seat-sharing for Punjab's 117-member Legislative Assembly.
Under their previous alliance arrangement, the SAD had contested 94 Assembly seats, while the BJP had fielded candidates in 23 constituencies. However, the political circumstances have changed since the two parties parted ways in September 2020.
Recent reports have indicated that the BJP is seeking a significantly larger share of seats in the proposed arrangement. The exact number of constituencies to be contested by each party remains under discussion, and no final seat-sharing formula has been officially announced.
Why Did BJP and Akali Dal Part Ways?
The BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal were long-standing allies and partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, their political relationship came to an end in September 2020 when the SAD withdrew from the NDA over its opposition to the Centre's three farm laws, which had triggered widespread protests among farmers.
The farm laws were subsequently repealed in 2021. Since then, both parties have pursued separate political paths in Punjab.
Sukhbir Singh Badal has recently indicated that his party is open to alliances with political parties that accept its ideology and policies, while ruling out an understanding with the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.
With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, the coming days could be crucial for both parties as they work towards finalising the proposed arrangement.
