Is an Akali-BJP alliance in the offing in Punjab?

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked speculation about the possibility of the two old alliance partners coming together again ahead of the crucial Punjab Assembly elections. The meeting has also alerted other political parties to the possibility of advancing the Punjab Assembly elections from February 2027 to November 2026. This is believed to be one of the reasons the two parties have started a dialogue.