ANKUSH SINGH
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has indicated it is open to an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, but differences over seat-sharing and the issue of drug abuse could complicate a reunion.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal recently said his party was willing to work with parties that shared its ideology, ruling out an alliance with the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The BJP, meanwhile, has said it is preparing to contest all 117 Assembly seats in Punjab.
The two parties were long-standing allies before their split in 2020 over the Centre’s now-repealed farm laws. In the 2017 Assembly elections, the SAD contested 94 seats and the BJP 23, reflecting the Akali Dal’s stronger grassroots presence at the time.
A renewed alliance could require a revised seat-sharing arrangement, with the BJP seeking a larger role. Both parties performed poorly in the 2022 elections, winning two seats for the BJP and three for the SAD.
An August 2026 VoteVibe opinion poll put the BJP’s vote share at 12.2% and the SAD’s at 11.3%. Their combined figure of 23.5% suggests potential electoral gains, although supporters of one party may not necessarily vote for candidates from the other.
The poll placed the AAP at 34% and the Congress at 30.2%, highlighting the challenge facing the former allies.
Drug abuse is another obstacle to a possible reunion. The BJP has made the issue central to its criticism of the AAP government and has pledged stronger action against drug trafficking in Punjab.
The SAD has faced political scrutiny over drug-related allegations and investigations involving senior party leaders. An alliance could therefore raise questions about the BJP’s anti-drug campaign and the record of its potential partner.
The issue has gained further attention following the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa on 13 October. The incident has intensified public debate over drug abuse and law and order.
