3 weeks ago
SAD chief Sukhbir Badal meets PM Modi, sparks alliance buzz
Two big political parties in the Indian state of Punjab are making news again.
They are the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The SAD's leader, Sukhbir Singh Badal, met the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi.
The meeting happened at the Prime Minister's office inside Parliament House and lasted only a few minutes.
Nobody has officially said what they talked about, but people close to Badal say they discussed the law-and-order situation in Punjab.
For more than 20 years, the two parties were close friends, but they stopped working together in 2020 over three farm laws that many farmers disliked.
The government later removed those laws, yet the parties stayed apart.
Now people wonder if they will join hands again before Punjab's election, which is due early next year.
The BJP's leader in Punjab says his party will fight the election all by itself.
Another leader, Arvind Kejriwal, made jokes about the two parties on social media, and everyone is watching the meeting closely.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at the PM's office in Parliament House, New Delhi.
Accounts differ on the meeting's length — one report says roughly 10 minutes, another about 20 minutes — and neither side issued an official statement on what was discussed.
The meeting reignited speculation that the SAD could revive its two-decade-old alliance with the BJP-led NDA ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections due early next year (2027).
The SAD left the NDA in September 2020 over three farm laws, later repealed by the Centre in 2021; the parties contested the 2022 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls separately.
Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon dismissed the buzz, saying the BJP will contest all 117 seats alone, while AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal mocked both parties on X.
- Who
- Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi; reactions came from Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, SAD leaders Daljit Singh Cheema and Sikander Singh Maluka, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
- What
- A meeting between Badal and Modi that reignited speculation about a possible revival of the SAD-BJP/NDA alliance ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections.
- Where
- The Prime Minister's office in the Parliament House complex, New Delhi.
- When
- Friday (exact date not specified in the articles); the Punjab Assembly election is due early next year (2027).
- Why
- The long-time allies, who split in 2020 over the farm laws, are seen as potentially reuniting ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls.
Speculation of SAD-BJP reunion
BJP contesting Punjab alone
SAD-BJP alliance revival ahead of Punjab polls
Speculation of SAD-BJP reunion
The Badal-Modi meeting reignited speculation that the SAD could rejoin the BJP-led NDA; reports suggest the SAD, the BJP's Punjab unit and the RSS are in favour of reviving the alliance.
BJP contesting Punjab alone
Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon dismissed the buzz, saying any senior leader can meet the PM and that the BJP will contest all 117 seats alone; Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly ruled out an alliance and said the BJP will fight to form its own government in Punjab.
Purpose of the Badal-Modi meeting
Speculation of SAD-BJP reunion
Some observers saw the meeting, which came days after Badal met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, as a sign of political realignment ahead of the 2027 polls.
BJP contesting Punjab alone
No official statement was issued; those close to Badal described it as an informal interaction to discuss the law-and-order situation and the functioning of the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in Punjab.
Viability of reviving the partnership
Speculation of SAD-BJP reunion
SAD leader Sikander Singh Maluka (speaking personally) said the sentiment of the people is that SAD and BJP should form an alliance, and some have hinted at backchannel talks to avoid a split in the anti-incumbency vote.
BJP contesting Punjab alone
Some state leaders maintain the decades-old alliance is unlikely to be revived even with a revised seat-sharing formula, some BJP leaders see any future partnership only on their own terms possibly via a post-poll arrangement, and the Punjab BJP unit faces an internal power struggle after over 100 office-bearers resigned following a reshuffle that replaced six district presidents.
Key facts
- SAD president
- Sukhbir Singh Badal
- Met with
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Meeting venue
- PM's office, Parliament House, New Delhi
- Meeting duration
- Roughly 10 minutes per one report, about 20 minutes per another
- Reason for 2020 NDA exit
- Three farm laws, repealed by the Centre in 2021
- Punjab BJP chief's stand
- Kewal Singh Dhillon: BJP will contest all 117 seats alone
- 2022 Punjab Assembly results
- AAP 92, Congress 18, SAD 3, BJP 2
- 2024 Lok Sabha results in Punjab
- BJP won 0 seats, SAD won 1 (Bathinda)
Quotes
Aam Aadmi Party Convenor Arvind Kejriwal
Leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, social media influencer
“If an alliance is to be stitched, what will be the conditions? Any decision on this will be taken after due deliberations in the party. The sentiment of people is that SAD and BJP should form an alliance. This is not the party's opinion but my own.”
livemint.com
“"We discussed Punjab politics. It was a very good meeting. Our sole agenda for Punjab is development. We will contest and win all 117 seats; there is no talk of an alliance right now. We will form a BJP government in Punjab."”
wionews.com
Sources
PM Modi meets Sukhbir Badal, fuels talk of BJP-SAD reunion in Punjab
PM-Akali chief meet ignites reunion buzz: SAD-BJP alliance talk returns ahead of Punjab polls
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal meets PM Modi
Punjab Election 2027: SAD, BJP to reunite? Sukhbir Singh Badal-PM Modi meet sparks fresh speculation
Badal’s meeting with PM reignites alliance buzz while Kejriwal takes a swipe
SAD Chief Sukhbir Badal Meets PM Modi, Triggers Alliance Buzz Ahead of Punjab Elections 2027; Here's What State BJP Chief Said
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