A 20-minute meeting between Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday has reignited political speculation over whether the BJP and SAD could once again join hands ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
The meeting, held at Sansad Bhavan, comes at a politically sensitive time when Punjab’s major parties are preparing for a high-stakes electoral battle. Although neither the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nor the Shiromani Akali Dal has officially disclosed what transpired during the discussion, the timing alone has triggered intense debate across political circles.
Leaders accompanying Sukhbir Badal described the interaction as an informal courtesy meeting and declined to reveal any details. However, in Punjab politics, meetings between senior leaders of former alliance partners rarely escape political interpretation.
PM Modi and Sukhbir Badal Meeting Revives Political Speculation
The significance of the meeting lies not merely in its occurrence but in the political history shared by both parties.
For more than two decades, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP remained one of India’s longest-running political alliances. Together they governed Punjab during three separate terms between 1997 and 2002, 2007 and 2012, and again from 2012 to 2017.
That partnership ended dramatically in September 2020 after differences emerged over the Centre’s three farm laws. The Akali Dal, which initially supported the legislation, later withdrew its backing amid massive protests by farmers and eventually exited the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The split marked a turning point in Punjab politics. Both parties fought the 2022 Assembly elections independently and suffered disappointing performances, allowing the Aam Aadmi Party to secure a landslide victory.
Against this backdrop, Sukhbir Badal’s meeting with Prime Minister Modi has naturally prompted questions about whether political compulsions could once again bring the former allies together.
Why the SAD-BJP Alliance Broke in 2020
The relationship between the BJP and the Akali Dal deteriorated rapidly during the nationwide farmers’ movement.
Punjab witnessed one of the strongest protests against the three farm laws. Facing mounting pressure from farmers and rural voters, the Shiromani Akali Dal withdrew from the NDA and positioned itself as a critic of the Centre’s agricultural reforms.
Since then, both parties have repeatedly maintained that they would contest elections independently. Despite occasional speculation over reconciliation, neither side has formally initiated alliance talks in public.
The latest meeting, therefore, assumes greater significance because it comes just months before political campaigning is expected to intensify across Punjab.
Why This Meeting Matters Before Punjab Assembly Elections
Political observers believe the electoral landscape in Punjab has become increasingly unpredictable.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party faces anti-incumbency questions after completing several years in government. Meanwhile, the Congress continues to deal with internal factional struggles, creating uncertainty over its organisational strength ahead of the elections.
At the same time, both the BJP and the SAD are searching for ways to strengthen their political position.
According to a party insider, the present political circumstances could favour a renewed understanding between the two parties.
“With infighting among the Congress, both SAD and BJP, if they form an alliance, they have the best chance to win the Assembly elections,” the insider said.
Even so, no official negotiations have been acknowledged by either political party.
BJP and SAD Continue to Maintain Separate Election Plans
Publicly, both organisations continue to insist that they will contest the Punjab Assembly elections independently.
During his Punjab visit in June 2026, BJP president Nitin Nabin announced that the party would field candidates in all 117 Assembly constituencies.
Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon has repeated the same position on multiple occasions, stating that the state unit is fully prepared to contest every seat without an alliance.
The Shiromani Akali Dal has also maintained a similar stance.
Sukhbir Singh Badal has consistently said that his party is preparing candidates across all 117 Assembly constituencies and remains focused on rebuilding its organisation after recent electoral setbacks.
These public declarations make Friday’s meeting even more intriguing because they contrast with the political speculation now dominating Punjab.
Internal Challenges Could Influence Punjab’s Political Future
Both parties enter the election season while facing organisational challenges.
Within the Punjab BJP, disagreements among senior leaders have surfaced in recent months. Former minister Tikshan Sud has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the current leadership, highlighting internal tensions within the state unit.
The Shiromani Akali Dal is also attempting to overcome factional divisions.
Several senior leaders have floated the SAD Punar Surjit faction, while Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, led by Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, has expanded its influence, particularly across rural constituencies traditionally considered Akali strongholds.
These developments have complicated the political landscape and increased pressure on established parties to consolidate their support base before the Assembly elections.
What Political Leaders Said After the Meeting
Senior SAD leader and former cabinet minister Maheshinder Singh Grewal urged caution against drawing immediate conclusions.
“It is too early to speculate or jump to conclusions. The details of the meeting have not been shared yet. If something significant was discussed, the party president would share it during the core committee meeting,” Grewal said.
At the same time, he acknowledged that political meetings between senior leaders rarely happen without purpose.
“Having said that, naturally, in politics, nothing is an informal chat. Since the meeting has taken place, naturally the issues of Punjab and how AAP’s misrule is prevailing in the state would have been discussed,” he added.
Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon also attempted to downplay speculation while leaving the final decision to the party leadership.
“The Prime Minister belongs to everyone. He is the PM of the country. Any senior leader can meet the Prime Minister. Sukhbir Singh Badal has remained the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab. I am happy that he must have spoken for the good of Punjab,” Dhillon said.
He reiterated that the Punjab BJP remains committed to contesting all 117 Assembly seats independently.
“As far as the state BJP unit is concerned, we will contest all 117 seats in Punjab alone. The Prime Minister and Home Minister are the high command. Whatever they decide will happen. A major joining is going to happen soon,” he added.
Can SAD and BJP Reunite Before 2027?
For now, the meeting has generated more questions than answers.
Neither the BJP nor the Shiromani Akali Dal has confirmed that alliance discussions are underway. Yet political observers note that electoral realities often reshape strategies as polling dates draw closer.
Punjab’s political environment remains fluid, with every major party reassessing its strengths and weaknesses before entering one of the state’s most closely watched Assembly elections in recent years.
Whether Friday’s meeting was merely a courtesy call or the beginning of renewed political engagement may become clearer in the coming months. Until then, Sukhbir Singh Badal’s interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has succeeded in placing the possibility of a SAD-BJP reunion firmly back at the centre of Punjab’s political conversation.