Chandigarh. The long-standing political rift between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab appears to be narrowing. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini appears to be playing a key role in the potential rapprochement between the two parties. Saini and Badal had a 20-minute conversation in Chandigarh on August 4th, just two days before Sukhbir Singh Badal’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is believed that this meeting paved the way for the meeting between Badal and PM Modi.
Sukhbir Badal met with Modi after meeting with Saini.
According to sources, the BJP leadership has tasked Nayab Singh Saini with contacting various parties and leaders regarding potential political alliances in Punjab. During his visit to Punjab, Saini stated in Jalandhar that the BJP’s doors are open to parties and leaders who believe in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies.
Shortly thereafter, Sukhbir Badal met with Saini and then with Prime Minister Modi. Both meetings are being linked to the changing political dynamics in Punjab.
Several Punjab issues were discussed during the Modi-Badal meeting.
It is reported that the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Sukhbir Badal discussed several important issues, including the current political situation in Punjab. Sukhbir Badal raised issues related to law and order, gangsterism, farmers’ organizations, businesses, entrepreneurs, and employees in Punjab with the Prime Minister.
According to sources, during the meeting, Sukhbir also shared with the Prime Minister some anecdotes related to his father and former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Narendra Modi and Parkash Singh Badal have a long-standing close political relationship.
Was the Delimitation Bill also discussed?
Sources claim that the meeting also discussed the central government’s proposed Delimitation Bill. It has also emerged that discussions were held regarding the support of the Shiromani Akali Dal’s lone MP, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, on this issue.
However, no official information has yet been revealed regarding the issues on which final consensus was reached in the meeting.
The BJP and the Akali Dal were once together, but their alliance broke in 2020.
The BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal have long been allies in Punjab politics. The two parties formed governments together in 1997, 2007, and 2012. Previously, in 1970, the Akali government received the support of the Jan Sangh.
However, the alliance between the two parties broke down in 2020 over the issue of three farm laws. The SAD broke ties with the NDA.
Attempts to bridge the rural Sikh base and the urban vote bank:
The renewed closeness between the two parties has sparked discussions about new equations in Punjab politics. A potential alliance is believed to be a strategy to bring together the Akali Dal’s rural Sikh base and the BJP’s urban influence.
In such a situation, if the political understanding between the two parties progresses, Nayab Singh Saini’s role in Punjab could become even more important. Following the meeting between Sukhbir Badal and PM Modi, speculation has intensified regarding a possible alliance in Punjab politics.