Sukhbir Singh Badal Meets PM Modi, Stirs Speculation of BJP-SAD Alliance for 2027 Punjab Polls

New Delhi: A meeting between Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday has reignited speculation about a possible re-alignment between the two parties ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for next year.

The meeting, which took place at the Prime Minister's official residence, was not officially announced by either party. Details of the discussion were not disclosed, but political observers note that such a high-profile interaction carries significance given the electoral calendar and the past partnership between the SAD and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The SAD and BJP were allies for over two decades, governing Punjab together from 2007 to 2017. However, the alliance broke down in September 2020 after the Centre enacted three farm laws, which the SAD opposed strongly. The Akali Dal, which draws much of its support from the farming community, withdrew from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in protest.

The farm laws were subsequently repealed in November 2021 after year-long protests by farmers, but the political fallout continued to shape Punjab's electoral landscape. In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, the SAD suffered an unprecedented defeat, winning only three seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept to power with 92 seats. The BJP, contesting separately, won two seats.

Since then, both parties have reassessed their positions. The SAD has faced internal challenges and a resurgent AAP government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The BJP, on the other hand, has been seeking to expand its footprint in Punjab, a state where it has historically played second fiddle to the Akali Dal in their alliance.

The meeting between Badal and Modi comes at a time when the BJP is trying to strengthen its presence in the state, particularly after its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the party won only one of Punjab's 13 seats. The SAD drew a blank in those elections.

Political analysts suggest that a reunion could be mutually beneficial. For the BJP, aligning with the SAD could provide a rooted organisational structure in rural Punjab and access to the influential Sikh voter base. For the SAD, an alliance with the BJP could offer a national platform and a counterweight to the ruling AAP and the Congress.

However, any formal rapprochement is likely to face challenges. The SAD has been vocal in its criticism of the BJP on issues like farmer rights, Punjab's border security, and the alleged misuse of central agencies against Opposition leaders. The BJP, meanwhile, has courted other regional figures in Punjab, including former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, whose Punjab Lok Congress later merged with the party.

Neither party has made any official statement about the meeting or its agenda. The SAD described it as a 'courtesy call', while BJP sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that 'many issues' were discussed but declined to elaborate.

The timing of the meeting is notable. Punjab is scheduled to go to the polls in early 2027, and political parties have begun to position themselves. The Congress, under new state leadership, is seeking to rebuild. The AAP, despite facing anti-incumbency and ongoing internal disputes, remains a formidable force. A possible SAD-BJP alliance would alter the state's political calculus.

Observers also point out that the relationship between the SAD and the BJP has not been entirely dormant. The two parties have cooperated on certain issues in Parliament, and SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal's wife, has maintained cordial relations with the ruling dispensation.

Yet, a formal alliance remains uncertain. The SAD's core constituency, the Sikh farming community, has not forgiven the BJP for the farm laws. Rebuilding that trust would require significant political gestures on both sides.

As Punjab braces for another electoral contest, the Badal-Modi meeting serves as a reminder that political alignments in the state are fluid. Whether this translates into a formal tie-up will depend on negotiations, public messaging, and the evolving ground reality. For now, the meeting has added a new layer of speculation to the state's political narrative.