Sukhbir Badal Clarifies PM Modi’s ‘Akali’ Remark Was Not Aimed at His Party

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Punjab was intended to highlight development projects worth around ₹5,470 crore. However, political attention quickly shifted to a brief remark he made about the Akali Dal and how Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal interpreted it.

During a public rally in Jalandhar, Modi criticised three of Punjab’s main political rivals—the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Congress, and the Akali Dal. He described AAP as “kattar beimaan” (utterly dishonest), said the Congress remained trapped in internal power struggles, and added that “Akali Dal is no different,” alleging that internal selfish interests had prevented it from serving Punjab effectively. At no point did the Prime Minister specify any particular Akali faction; he referred only to “Akali Dal”.

Despite this, Sukhbir Badal publicly argued that Modi’s criticism was aimed not at the Shiromani Akali Dal but at splinter groups such as Akali Dal Punar Surjit. This interpretation surprised many political observers because Modi himself had made no distinction between different Akali outfits.

The SAD chief’s response immediately prompted questions about why he sought to distance his party from remarks that appeared to refer to the Akali Dal as a whole. Political observers suggest several possible explanations. One view is that by declining to interpret Modi’s remarks as a direct attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal, Badal avoided publicly escalating tensions with the BJP, his party’s former ally for nearly 25 years.

Senior SAD leaders said this should not be read as evidence of any behind-the-scenes negotiations but reflected a conscious decision not to further widen the political distance between the former allies.

The BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal shared one of India’s longest-running political alliances before parting ways in 2020. Together, they governed Punjab three times. The BJP traditionally drew support from urban constituencies, traders, and sections of the Hindu middle class, while the Shiromani Akali Dal remained dominant across large parts of rural Punjab and among sections of the Sikh electorate. The alliance allowed both parties to expand beyond their individual support bases.

The alliance collapsed in 2020 after the Shiromani Akali Dal walked out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the Centre’s three farm laws. Since then, the two parties have fought the 2022 Punjab Assembly election and the 2024 Lok Sabha election separately. Both have faced electoral setbacks; the BJP failed to win any Lok Sabha seat from Punjab in 2024, while the SAD saw a decline in its traditional strongholds.

Political observers note that Badal’s careful interpretation of Modi’s remark may be an attempt to keep channels of communication open with the BJP, especially as both parties seek to rebuild their political fortunes in Punjab. However, there is no official indication of any renewed alliance talks.

In summary, Sukhbir Badal’s reading of PM Modi’s “Akali” remark has generated debate because it appears to soften the potential political fallout between the SAD and the BJP, even though the Prime Minister’s statement did not differentiate between Akali factions. The episode highlights the continuing political complexities in Punjab, where old alliances and rivalries remain fluid.