Harsimrat Kaur Badal hints at possible SAD-BJP alliance ahead of Punjab 2027 polls

Punjab Newsline | Sangrur

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has sparked fresh speculation about a possible renewed alliance between the SAD and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.

Speaking at a party conference in Sangrur on the 41st death anniversary of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, Harsimrat made a cryptic reference to a possible future political “agreement” that could bring development and progress to Punjab.

While addressing the gathering, she said she was holding herself back from speaking further and indicated that people would soon find out what was going to happen. She also spoke about the possibility of arrangements through which development-related work could once again be facilitated from Delhi for Punjab.

Her remarks have gained significance following a recent meeting between SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. The meeting had already triggered speculation about a possible rapprochement between the former allies.

The SAD and BJP were long-standing allies before their relationship broke down in 2020 over the Centre’s farm laws. The Akali Dal subsequently withdrew from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and the two parties contested the 2022 Punjab Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections separately.

In the 2022 Assembly elections, the BJP won two seats while the SAD secured three seats in the 117-member House. Before their split, the two parties had a long-standing seat-sharing arrangement in Punjab, with the SAD contesting 94 Assembly seats and the BJP 23.

The latest developments have once again brought the possibility of an SAD-BJP reunion into focus. However, there has been no official announcement of an alliance so far. The BJP has also maintained a cautious stance, with its leaders previously indicating that the party was preparing to contest the Punjab polls on its own.

For now, Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s remarks and the recent high-level political meetings have added a new dimension to Punjab’s electoral calculations ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.