By Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has ruled out the possibility of a BJP alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, saying the BJP’s alliance is with the people of the state. His remarks come amid renewed speculation about a possible tie-up ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections following a meeting between SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
At the same time, the BJP is dealing with internal discontent in its Punjab unit. Party leaders have raised objections to recent organisational appointments, prompting the high command to send Satish Poonia, the BJP’s Haryana in-charge, to Punjab to speak with dissatisfied leaders and assess their concerns.
Saini says BJP will form next government
During a media briefing, Saini was asked about the possibility of reviving the BJP-SAD partnership. He said the BJP’s alliance was with the people of Punjab and expressed confidence that the party would form the next government in the state.
On Badal’s meeting with Modi, Saini said the Prime Minister represents the country’s 140 crore people and can meet anyone. He questioned why the meeting had automatically led to speculation about an electoral alliance.
The comments came shortly after BJP national president Nitin Nabin said during a Punjab visit that any decision on an alliance would be taken at an appropriate time.
The possibility of a renewed partnership has remained a subject of discussion within Punjab’s political circles. Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and former state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar have previously argued that the party could benefit electorally from rebuilding ties with the Akalis.
BJP and SAD have a long electoral history
The BJP and SAD remained allies for more than two decades and jointly formed governments in Punjab three times — from 1997 to 2002, 2007 to 2012 and 2012 to 2017.
Their relationship broke down in 2021 amid differences over the now-repealed farm laws, with the SAD eventually leaving the NDA. The two parties subsequently fought the 2022 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls separately.
In the 2022 Assembly election, the SAD won three seats while the BJP secured two. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the BJP failed to win a seat in Punjab, while the SAD won one, with Harsimrat Kaur Badal retaining the Bathinda constituency.
Under their earlier seat-sharing arrangement, the SAD had contested the majority of seats, including 94 of the 117 Assembly constituencies and 10 of Punjab’s 13 Lok Sabha seats.
Poonia tasked with handling Punjab BJP dissent
While alliance speculation continues, the BJP has another challenge to address within its state organisation. The party has deputed Satish Poonia to meet leaders unhappy with recent organisational decisions and examine their grievances.
According to sources, Poonia has been asked to assess the functioning of the Punjab unit and submit a report containing recommendations for resolving the issues raised by party leaders.
Sources said Poonia also questioned the reasoning behind some of the recent appointments, noting that he himself had been involved in the process through which the earlier organisational structure was finalised.
Leaders question regional representation
The dissent is reportedly centred on the composition of the newly formed state team. Dissatisfied leaders have pointed out that three of the five newly appointed general secretaries are from Ludhiana, while the party’s organisational strongholds in the Majha and Doaba regions have not received adequate representation.
Questions have also been raised over the removal of six district presidents only days after their appointments. According to the dissenting leaders, the changes were made without issuing show-cause notices or seeking explanations.
Saini targets AAP government
Saini also attacked the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, alleging that its record on corruption was worse than that of previous Congress governments.
He criticised the ‘Mawan Dhiyan’ scheme as well, arguing that the government was offering financial assistance to women close to the elections while benefits such as widow pensions had allegedly been discontinued for some of the same beneficiaries.
With the 2027 Assembly election still ahead, the BJP’s position on the SAD alliance remains closely watched. For now, Saini’s remarks indicate that the party is seeking to project an independent political identity in Punjab while simultaneously working to settle organisational differences within its own ranks.
