Punjab Polls: Amid the ongoing monsoon session, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inside the parliament premises. With just a few months remaining in the Punjab Assembly polls, the high-profile meeting has stirred a discussion on a possible alliance between the SAD and the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, any official statement regarding the meeting was released by any of the parties.
As per the reports, the two senior leaders discussed several issues of Punjab, including development projects, law and order, agriculture, and the current political situation. The official agenda of the meeting has not been made public, but it is considered significant in terms of Punjab's politics.
Alliance Fell Apart In 2020
Earlier in 2020, the nearly two-and-a-half-decade-old alliance between the two parties broke down following a dispute over the controversial farm laws. The Akali Dal decided to leave the BJP-led NDA after the ruling party refused to scrap the laws; however, PM Modi later took them back. The two parties contested the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections separately.
Both Parties To Join Hands?
The fallout between the SAD and BJP affected the performance of both parties, as they could not win even five seats in both these elections. As per the political experts, both parties may again consider joining hands given the changing political situation in Punjab and the upcoming assembly election. However, it remains unclear whether both the senior leaders discussed possibilities of alliance in their meeting.
Arvind Kejriwal Takes Dig
While taking a dig at the meeting, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Friday questioned whether the two "corrupt parties" are planning to form an alliance. Following Kejriwal's comments, discussions regarding the possible alliance between the BJP and SAD have intensified in state politics. The assembly election in Punjab is likely to be held in the early months of 2027.