Old Allies BJP and Akali Dal Move Towards A Political Reunion

With crucial Assembly elections scheduled for early 2027, political realignments in Punjab appear to be gathering momentum. The BJP seems close to striking a deal with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to revive their erstwhile alliance and jointly contest the upcoming Assembly elections.

It was six years ago that the BJP and SAD parted ways, bringing an end to a nearly three-decade-long partnership that was among the longest-running political alliances in North India. Once a formidable electoral combination in Punjab, the two parties have struggled to regain their lost political ground since going their separate ways.

The BJP's association with the Akali Dal dates back to a period even before the formation of the BJP. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh had established ties with the Akali leadership, but a formal pre-poll alliance for the Punjab Assembly elections took shape only in 1997.

The partnership rested on a practical understanding of each other's political strengths and constituencies. The Akali Dal, with its strong rural and Sikh support base, contested 94 of Punjab's 117 Assembly seats, while the BJP fielded candidates in the remaining 23, primarily in urban and semi-urban constituencies where it enjoyed traditional support.

The arrangement proved mutually beneficial. While the Akalis brought rural influence and a strong Sikh political constituency to the table, the BJP contributed its urban support base and national political presence. The combination helped the alliance capture power in Punjab in 1997, 2007 and 2012.

The partnership weathered several political upheavals at the national level and remained intact through the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In 2019, the Akali Dal won two of the 10 parliamentary seats it contested, while the BJP secured two of the three seats allotted to it.

However, the three agricultural laws enacted by the Modi-led NDA government in 2020 proved to be the breaking point. Differences over the legislation eventually drove the two parties apart. The laws triggered a year-long farmers' agitation, which received support from the Congress, the Akali Dal and other Opposition parties. Farmers, particularly from Punjab and Haryana, laid siege to Delhi's borders, putting the BJP in an uncomfortable political position.

The issue was particularly sensitive for the Akali Dal, whose political strength has traditionally rested on the farming community, especially Jat Sikh farmers, who constitute a significant part of its support base.

Initially, the Akali Dal sought amendments to the legislation and assurances from the Centre. However, as the agitation gathered momentum, the party came under increasing pressure to distance itself from the controversial laws.

On September 26, 2020, the Akali Dal's core committee decided to withdraw from the NDA, citing the Centre's failure to address farmers' concerns. These included demands for adequate safeguards and a commitment on minimum support prices (MSP). The party also raised the issue of Punjabi not being included in the list of official languages in Jammu and Kashmir.

The 2022 Punjab Assembly elections provided the first major electoral test for the two parties after their separation. The outcome was disappointing for both. The Akali Dal's vote share fell sharply from 25 per cent to 18 per cent, while the BJP registered a marginal increase.

The Akali Dal contested 97 seats in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party, while the BJP fielded candidates in 73 constituencies in an arrangement with former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress and the Akali Dal (Sanyukt). The biggest beneficiary of their separate electoral strategies was the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which swept to power in the state.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections further underlined the limitations of the two parties contesting independently. The Akali Dal managed to win just one seat, while the BJP failed to open its account in Punjab.

With the next Assembly elections approaching in 2027, the possibility of a reunion has once again assumed political significance.

For the Akali Dal, the immediate challenge is to reclaim its traditional support base and restore its political relevance. For the BJP, the task is to expand its social and geographical footprint in a state where its independent organisational strength is still a work in progress.

A renewed alliance could offer both parties an opportunity to pool their respective strengths. Whether they can recreate the political chemistry that once made them a formidable force in Punjab remains to be seen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gowri V

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A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

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