Speculation over a possible reunion between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gained momentum in Punjab, with SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal refusing to give a clear timeline on whether the two former allies will come together ahead of the next Assembly elections.
When asked about the possibility of an alliance, Badal said, “Main kaun sa Pandit hoon. You will get to know in a few days,” and his response has added to the discussion surrounding a possible political understanding between the two parties.
The speculation intensified after BJP leaders were seen posing with Sukhbir Badal at the wedding reception of BJP national vice-president Manpreet Singh Badal’s daughter in Chandigarh. Photographs from the event went viral on social media, triggering fresh discussions about a possible reunion between the SAD and BJP, however, statements from senior BJP leaders have presented different positions on the party's election strategy in Punjab.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will form the next government in Punjab, and on the other hand, Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon has maintained that the BJP will contest all 117 Assembly seats on its own.
These differing statements have kept the alliance question open, with neither party making an official announcement about a possible seat-sharing arrangement.
The SAD and BJP were long-time allies and contested several elections together as part of the NDA, however, the Akali Dal walked out of the alliance in 2020 over the now-repealed farm laws during the farmers' agitation. The party had opposed the laws, which eventually led to a break in its political relationship with the BJP.
Interestingly, while addressing the media, Sukhbir Badal was critical of both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), holding them responsible for the alleged misgovernance in Punjab. He did not make any direct mention of the BJP during his remarks.
His interaction with the media came after Harmeet Singh Kadian, president of the Bharti Kisan Union (Kadian), along with the union's district presidents, extended support to the SAD for the coming elections, meanwhile, Badal also spoke about the recent political developments within the AAP. Reacting to the exit of AAP MLAs Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and Chetan Singh Jouramajra, along with former IPS officer and MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, and their move towards the BJP, he claimed that several more leaders would leave the ruling party in the coming days.
Badal also predicted that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann would lose the upcoming Assembly election from Dhuri.
He said his visits to different parts of Punjab had shown that people were not just disappointed with the Mann-led government but had developed strong resentment against the Chief Minister and his leadership.
With the next Assembly elections approaching, the possibility of a SAD-BJP reunion remains a key political talking point in Punjab. However, Sukhbir Badal's latest remarks have offered no confirmation of an alliance, leaving the question of whether the two former partners will contest the elections together unanswered.
