BJP-Akali alliance buzz returns ahead of Punjab polls, but what stands in the way

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI Photos) 6 min readLudhianaAug 11, 2026 04:25 PM IST First published on: Aug 11, 2026 at 04:23 PM IST A “cordial” meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal in Parliament last Friday has revived speculation about a possible rapprochement between the BJP and its former ally in Punjab. Even as the meeting has triggered political chatter in the state, there is little clarity in either camp on whether the two parties are actually headed for an alliance ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.