Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi appears to have followed a series of behind-the-scenes political discussions, with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini playing a key role in facilitating the interaction, according to sources.
The developments come ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, amid growing speculation over whether the SAD and BJP could revive their political alliance.
Sources said the sequence began with discussions between Akali leaders and Saini in Chandigarh and eventually culminated in a call from the Prime Minister’s Office late Thursday night. Badal then travelled to Delhi and met Modi the following day.
Chandigarh meeting sets the stage
Before his meeting with the Prime Minister, Badal met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini at his official residence, Sant Kabir Kutir, in Chandigarh.
According to sources, the discussions covered the possibility of cooperation between the SAD and BJP in the run-up to the Punjab polls. The two sides also discussed issues including the delimitation exercise and the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The Akali Dal is understood to be seeking political space and support from the BJP in Punjab, while the BJP is looking for support from the SAD on key issues before Parliament.
Sources said the possibility of arranging a direct meeting between Badal and Modi was also discussed during the Chandigarh interaction.
Punjab ground feedback raises alliance question
Sources close to the Akali Dal said the party’s internal assessment of the political situation in Punjab has also played a role in the recent developments.
During the SAD’s Punjab Bachao Rallies, party workers and supporters were reportedly asked for feedback across Assembly constituencies. According to the assessment, an understanding with the BJP could improve the party’s electoral prospects, while fighting the 2027 election without an alliance could prove considerably more difficult.
Another concern highlighted in the feedback was the changing dynamics of the traditional Panthic vote.
Sources claimed that the political influence of MP Amritpal Singh’s Waris Punjab De-linked political outfit has been growing in rural and Panthic constituencies. At the same time, the SAD’s traditional support base has faced pressure, while other Akali factions could further divide the vote.
The internal assessment reportedly strengthened the argument within the party for exploring an alliance.
BJP workers also sounded out
The Akali Dal subsequently sought to gauge sentiment among BJP workers, according to sources.
Ground-level feedback gathered through BJP cadres reportedly indicated support for cooperation between the two parties, with workers believing that combining their respective vote bases could improve the prospects of alliance candidates in Punjab.
These discussions eventually led to senior Akali leaders approaching Saini.
Sukhbir Badal, Bhunder and Cheema meet Saini
Sources said Badal, senior SAD leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder and former minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema met Saini at his Chandigarh residence around four days before the Prime Minister’s meeting.
The discussion reportedly lasted close to two hours. The proposed electoral arrangement, parliamentary issues and the possibility of cooperation between the two parties were among the matters discussed.
The Akali side also reportedly raised the issue of Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences. According to sources, Saini indicated that greater clarity on the matter could emerge after discussions with the Prime Minister or Union Home Minister.
Following the meeting, the process for arranging Badal’s interaction with Modi was set in motion.
11 PM call from PMO, Delhi trip by morning
According to senior Akali Dal sources, Saini subsequently sought an appointment for Badal with the Prime Minister.
The development reportedly became official late Thursday night when Badal received a call from the Prime Minister’s Office at around 11 pm, asking him to travel to Delhi for a meeting with Modi.
Badal then left for the national capital and met the Prime Minister on Friday.
The contents of the conversation have not been made public.
SAD says meeting does not automatically mean alliance
Dr Daljit Cheema confirmed that Badal had met Saini but maintained that details of the discussions would be shared by Badal after consulting senior party leaders.
Cheema also cautioned against interpreting the Prime Minister’s meeting as confirmation of an electoral alliance.
He pointed out that the SAD and BJP had governed Punjab together for years and maintained longstanding political relations, making meetings between their senior leaders unsurprising.
BJP maintains silence on possible tie-up
Punjab BJP leaders have so far avoided commenting on the possibility of a renewed alliance.
According to party sources, the state leadership has been instructed by the central leadership not to publicly discuss the issue. The BJP is reportedly keen to avoid creating expectations before the contours of any possible arrangement are finalised.
The party is also understood to be looking at any future alliance from the standpoint of equal political partnership, rather than simply returning to the earlier arrangement.
For now, neither party has officially announced an alliance. However, the sequence of meetings in Chandigarh, the late-night communication from the PMO and Badal’s subsequent meeting with Modi have added fresh weight to speculation over a possible SAD-BJP rapprochement ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
