Punjab political landscape shifts amid alliance speculation

Political maneuvering is intensifying in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, centered on potential alliances between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal has ruled out any cooperation with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or the Congress party, labeling them the “biggest enemies of Punjab.” However, Badal stated that the SAD remains open to alliances with “like-minded parties” that align with its regional ideology.

This stance has fueled speculation regarding a return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), as internal party sources suggest growing consensus within the SAD for such a move. While the BJP's national general secretary and Punjab in-charge, Satish Punia, noted that any final decision on a coalition rests with the central leadership, he emphasized that BJP workers are currently prepared to contest all 117 assembly seats independently.

In response to these developments, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal criticized the potential closeness between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, suggesting such a partnership would be an “eighth wonder of the world.” Meanwhile, Amit Shah has expressed a resolve to make Punjab drug-free by 2029 and has predicted that the AAP government will be removed by voters.