New Delhi/Chandigarh: Speculation over a possible alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections remained unresolved after a key meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Punjab BJP leaders.
According to sources, some senior Punjab BJP leaders had reportedly planned to raise the issue of a pre-poll alliance with the Akali Dal as a strategy to improve the party’s prospects in the state. However, no formal discussion on the subject took place during the meeting.
Sources said Amit Shah outlined the party’s approach towards the upcoming Punjab elections, following which state leaders chose not to press the alliance issue. The meeting reportedly focused on Punjab’s major political and public issues, possible solutions and the BJP’s electoral strategy for the state.
Party insiders indicated that while some leaders were keen to discuss an alliance, no one eventually raised the proposal before the Home Minister. As a result, the meeting concluded without any comments or decisions regarding a BJP-SAD partnership.
Punjab BJP president Keval Singh Dhillon also confirmed after the meeting that there was no discussion on any political alliance. He reiterated that the BJP intends to contest all 117 Assembly seats in Punjab on its own.
The development comes amid continuing political debate over a possible revival of the BJP-Akali Dal alliance, which ended in 2020 over differences related to the now-repealed farm laws.
Political observers note that following the BJP’s setbacks in recent local body elections, some sections within the party had been seen as more receptive to exploring electoral cooperation with the Akali Dal. However, the outcome of the Delhi meeting suggests that the BJP leadership is currently focused on strengthening its independent political footing in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
