Punjab polls: Badal praises SAD-BJP rule as Amit Shah’s NDA pitch fuels reunion buzz

NEW DELHI: Speculation over a possible reunion between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) gathered pace on Friday after SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said his party was open to an alliance with parties that agree with its ideology and programmes, a day after Union home minister Amit Shah predicted an NDA government in Punjab in 2027.Badal, however, ruled out any understanding with the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), calling them the “two biggest enemies of Punjab”."During the SAD-BJP rule, peace prevailed in Punjab, and the state witnessed development, be it in infrastructure, industry, or the state becoming power surplus," Badal told reporters on Friday, according to PTI."Whether we form the government or not, we will continue to fight for the people of Punjab. In our view, the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party are the two biggest enemies of Punjab, and we can never have understanding with these parties. There are many other parties besides these and those who agree with the Akali Dal's ideology and programmes; we are open (for a tie-up)," he said.The remarks came a day after Union minister Amit Shah said Punjab's people had decided that an NDA government would come to power in the state in the 2027 assembly elections. He also predicted that the ruling AAP would be wiped out in the polls.Shah's statement reignited speculation about the BJP and SAD joining hands again, although Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon denied that any alliance decision had been taken."We have nothing on an alliance as of now. We are prepared for all 117 seats and will contest on all of them," Dhillon told TOI, adding that the BJP referred to its government at the Centre as an NDA government and would do the same in Punjab.A senior Punjab BJP functionary, however, said the political signal was clear despite Shah not naming the Akali Dal. The functionary also felt the two parties should have announced an alliance earlier, given the limited time before the elections. Any formal announcement would have to come from BJP national president Nitin Nabin, the functionary said.Why a SAD-BJP reunion mattersThe SAD and BJP were long-time allies in Punjab before the regional party ended their 24-year-old alliance in September 2020 over the now-repealed farm laws. SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal's wife, had also served as a Cabinet minister in the Narendra Modi government before the split.The former allies contested elections together for years, but their political fortunes were limited in the 2022 Punjab assembly polls. The BJP won two seats, while the SAD secured three in the 117-member Assembly.In recent months, several Punjab BJP leaders had maintained that the party was preparing to contest all 117 assembly seats independently. Dhillon reiterated that position on Friday, even as Shah's remarks and Badal's openness to an alliance renewed questions about the parties' electoral plans.Badal made the comments after leading an SAD delegation to meet Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Friday. The delegation submitted a memorandum over the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa and demanded, among other measures, the dismissal of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.Badal accused the AAP government of mishandling Punjab's affairs and said the state's law and order situation had deteriorated. He also blamed the Congress and AAP governments for what he described as the worsening situation in the state.With the 2027 assembly elections approaching, the public statements have revived the possibility of a realignment between the former allies. However, neither party has announced a formal agreement, and the BJP's Punjab leadership continues to maintain that it is preparing to contest all 117 seats.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.