Daijiworld Media Network - Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Oct 23: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday hinted at the possibility of his party rejoining the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for early 2027.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, the former deputy chief minister identified the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress as the SAD’s main political opponents in the state.
Without naming the BJP directly, Badal said the Akali Dal was willing to join hands with like-minded parties for the betterment of Punjab.
Speculation about a possible reunion between the SAD and the BJP has intensified ahead of the elections. In August, Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss the prevailing situation in Punjab, fuelling further talk of a possible alliance.
The BJP and the SAD were long-time allies before their partnership ended in September 2020 over differences concerning the Centre’s three farm laws. Although the laws were subsequently repealed following widespread protests, the Akali Dal did not return to the NDA.
The two parties contested the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections separately and suffered major setbacks. The BJP won just two seats, while the SAD secured three constituencies, marking its worst-ever electoral performance.
There was also speculation that the parties might reunite for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but they again contested independently. The SAD won one seat, Bathinda, while the BJP failed to win any constituency in Punjab.
Meanwhile, Badal said his meeting with the governor concerned the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. He said he had submitted four demands, including the removal of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and action against ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats allegedly patronising the drug trade.
In a post on X, Badal also sought a Class-I government job for Jhota’s widow, Bibi Manpreet Kaur, and Rs 2 crore in compensation on humanitarian grounds, while acknowledging that the family and the action committee had not sought the compensation.
He further demanded that the CBI investigation be expanded to cover the cases of Gulzar Singh of Toor Banjara in Dirba, who allegedly named Finance Minister Harpal Cheema in his dying declaration, and Bikramjit Singh of Sri Hargobindpur Sahib, who was hacked to death for opposing the drug trade.