Punjab Polls: SAD Chief Sukhbir Badal Says Open To Alliance With Like-Minded Parties Day After Amit Shah's NDA Pitch

State Bureau, Chandigarh: Amid growing speculation over a potential reunion between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday hinted at an alignment. Stating that his party's top priority is a prosperous Punjab, Badal expressed openness to join hands with any political party that agrees with Akali Dal's ideology and development agenda.

#WATCH | Chandigarh: Speaking on the possibilities of alliance for the upcoming Punjab elections, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal says, "Akali Dal is a regional party. Punjab is number 1 priority for Akali Dal. Whether we come to power or not, we have to keep fighting for Punjabis. For us, there are two parties which are the biggest enemies of Punjab - Congress and AAP. We can never have an alliance with these parties. Whichever other parties align with the ideology of Shiromani Akali Dal, we are open to them."

— ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2026

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Delegation Demands CM Bhagwant Mann's Dismissal Over Activist's Murder

The remarks were made after a Badal-led delegation met with Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria over the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa and presented a memorandum with some demands, which included the dismissal of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

"AAP And Congress Biggest Enemies Of Punjab"

Ruling out any understanding with the state's main rival parties, Badal said that the Congress and AAP are the two biggest enemies of Punjab. Without directly naming the BJP, Badal emphasised that his party is ready to join hands with other like-minded political forces committed to the state's progress.

Recalling Peace And Development Under Past SAD-BJP Govt

Badal said that under the previous SAD-BJP rule, Punjab experienced widespread peace, industrial growth, major infrastructure expansion, and a power-surplus economy. He contrasted that era with the current political environment, attributing Punjab's ongoing crises to wrong decisions made by Congress and AAP administrations.

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Amit Shah's 2027 NDA Pitch Ignites Coalition Buzz

Badal's remarks follow recent statements by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at an event in Delhi, where Shah said that an NDA government would take charge in Punjab following the 2027 Assembly elections, reigniting buzz about a potential reunion between the former allies.

(With Inputs From PTI)