Chandigarh, August 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has triggered fresh political speculation in Punjab over the possibility of a rapprochement between the former allies ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Badal met Modi at Parliament House in New Delhi on Friday afternoon. While the SAD did not disclose the agenda, party sources said discussions centred on issues concerning Punjab, including the law-and-order situation and alleged irregularities in welfare schemes under the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government.
The meeting came days after Badal met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, adding to political interest in the SAD president’s recent engagements with BJP leaders.
Reacting to the development, Congress MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli accused the BJP of attempting to weaken regional political parties and cautioned people in Punjab against being misled by such political developments.
Kotli cited political developments in states including Bihar, Haryana and Maharashtra, and said Punjab’s interests should remain the priority.
Punjab Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the details of the Modi-Badal meeting were not known, adding that voters would ultimately assess parties on their performance rather than political compromises or individual leaders.
Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, meanwhile, played down speculation about a possible alliance. He said Modi was the Prime Minister of the entire country and could meet any senior leader. Dhillon said Badal, as a former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, may have discussed issues concerning the state with Modi.
“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,” he said.
The SAD and BJP were long-standing allies in Punjab before the Akali Dal quit the BJP-led NDA in September 2020 over the now-repealed farm laws. Both parties have since maintained that they would contest the 2027 Assembly elections independently.
The latest meeting also comes weeks after Modi’s July 17 visit to Punjab, where he addressed a rally in Jalandhar and criticised the SAD, saying it had become focused on personal interests rather than public welfare.
The following day, Badal responded to the remarks during a media interaction in Chandigarh, saying Modi’s criticism was directed at the SAD Punarsurjit, a breakaway faction, rather than the SAD led by him.
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