CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have reportedly concluded seat-sharing talks for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, bringing the former allies closer to reviving their partnership six years after they parted ways. Sources said that an announcement could come within days. The parties have yet to publicly confirm the pact or disclose how they would divide Punjab’s 117 Assembly seats.
The BJP was reported to have sought at least 45 seats during negotiations, with the party looking to contest rural constituencies as well as seats in towns and cities. The figure reflects a reported BJP demand. The latest report on the conclusion of talks did not give a final seat count for either party.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal was expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Friday to discuss the proposed alliance. There was no official confirmation that the meeting took place. Badal had said in late October that the SAD was open to an alliance with parties willing to accept its ideology and policies. He ruled out a tie-up with the Congress or the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Separately, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh held a meeting in Chandigarh late on Friday to discuss the BJP’s election preparations in Punjab. RSS joint general secretary Arun Kumar urged leaders to strengthen booth-level organisation, according to sources.
The SAD quit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in September 2020 in protest against the Centre’s three farm laws. A renewed pact would bring the former allies back onto a common electoral platform against AAP, which has already announced 71 candidates in two lists. The seat split will show how far the BJP has secured its push to contest beyond its traditional urban and semi-urban base.