Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House in New Delhi on Friday afternoon, triggering a fresh wave of political speculation in Punjab over a possible revival of the SAD-BJP alliance ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The meeting drew sharp reactions from across the political spectrum, with the Indian National Congress (Congress) raising alarms and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders moving quickly to dismiss any suggestion of a formal arrangement.

What the Meeting Was About

Badal's office did not disclose the agenda, but sources within the SAD said discussions centred on Punjab-specific concerns — including the law-and-order situation in the state and alleged irregularities in welfare schemes under the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The meeting follows Badal's separate discussions with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who has recently emerged as one of the BJP's prominent campaign faces in Punjab, adding another layer of political intrigue to the development.

Congress Sounds the Alarm

Congress MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli was unsparing in his assessment. 'The BJP is a party that is working to weaken and destroy other political parties. You have seen how it has come to power across the country. The examples of Nitish Kumar and Dushyant Chautala are right before us. There are many such examples from across the country, including Maharashtra and other states. I want to say that we need to remain cautious of them. We should focus on Punjab and the interests of the people of Punjab,' Kotli said. He further alleged that such political developments were being used to mislead the people of Punjab.

BJP and AAP Play It Down

Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon sought to neutralise the speculation, saying, 'The Prime Minister is for everyone. He is the Prime Minister of the entire country and can meet any senior leader. Sukhbir Singh Badal has served as Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, and I am happy that he must have discussed issues concerning Punjab. As far as the Punjab BJP is concerned, we have already stated that we will contest all 117 Assembly seats on our own. There is nothing happening from our side.'

Punjab Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal also weighed in, saying, 'We do not know what transpired during the meeting. Only they know whether anything will happen or not. It will not make any difference. Ultimately, people will judge political parties based on their work. They will not look at compromises, parties, or individuals. They will look at performance.'

The Fractured Alliance — Background

The SAD-BJP partnership was once one of India's most durable state-level alliances, holding Punjab together for multiple electoral cycles. That equation collapsed in September 2020, when the Akali Dal withdrew from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the now-repealed farm laws — a decision driven in large part by the agrarian character of the SAD's core constituency in Punjab. Both parties have since maintained, publicly at least, that they will go it alone in the next Assembly election.

Notably, the meeting comes just weeks after PM Modi's 17 July visit to Punjab, during which he addressed a public rally in Jalandhar and criticised the Akali Dal, saying the party had become preoccupied with personal and selfish interests rather than public welfare. Badal responded the following day in Chandigarh, clarifying that Modi's remarks were directed at the SAD Punarsurjit — a breakaway faction — and not at his own party. The apparent rapprochement since then has only deepened the intrigue.

What Happens Next

With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections drawing closer, the political arithmetic in the state remains fluid. The AAP government, the Congress, the SAD, and the BJP are all recalibrating their positions. Any formal realignment between the SAD and BJP would significantly redraw the contest, particularly in rural constituencies where the Akali Dal retains organisational presence. For now, both parties' official lines hold — but the meeting has ensured that the question of an alliance will not go away quietly.