BJP, Akali Dal in Advanced Alliance Talks for 2027 Punjab Polls; Seat Split Unsettled2027 ਪੰਜਾਬ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਲਈ ਭਾਜਪਾ-ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਗੱਠਜੋੜ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਅੰਤਿਮ ਪੜਾਅ 'ਤੇ, ਸੀਟ ਵੰਡ ਬਾਕੀ

The BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal are in advanced talks to revive their alliance for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with seat-sharing and the place of a breakaway Akali faction still unresolved, the Times of India reported on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. No official announcement has been made by either party.

What is the state of the BJP-SAD talks?

The Times of India said negotiators from both sides believe the remaining issues can be settled "in the coming days". The two thorny points are the exact seat split and how to accommodate the rebel Akali faction, Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), which is seen as close to the BJP. The BJP is keen to offer that group a respectable deal, the paper reported.

The talks gained pace after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on October 22 that an NDA government would come to power in Punjab in 2027, and after SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said his party was open to alliances with parties other than the Congress and AAP, according to the Times of India and India Today.

How many seats could each party contest?

Reports differ, and all of them rely on unnamed sources. The Times of India said the BJP's share could nearly double from the 23 of 117 seats it contested as an SAD ally. The Economic Times put the BJP at around 45 seats. The New Indian Express quoted a senior SAD leader saying the BJP might contest about 55 seats and the Akalis the rest, with the splinter faction's seats coming either from the BJP quota or separately if it merges back into the SAD. Aaj Tak reported the BJP is claiming 40 to 47 seats, with understanding likely around 36 to 37.

Until now the BJP has said publicly that it is preparing to contest all 117 seats, and Hindustan Times reported that it has put Modi aide Chandrakant Patil in charge of Punjab election preparations.

Why is the BJP reconsidering?

The alliance broke in 2020 over the now-repealed farm laws. It had formed governments in Punjab in 1997, 2007 and 2012. Contesting separately in 2022, the SAD won three seats and the BJP two. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls the BJP took over 18 percent of the vote, its best ever in Punjab, while the SAD managed a little over 13 percent and one seat, the Times of India noted.

The Times of India also said supporters of a reunion argue it is the parties' best shot at power and could restore the Hindu-Sikh social compact that inspired their 1990s partnership, as Amritpal Singh's Waris Punjab De pushes a harder line.

When could an announcement come?

Daily Jagran reported that some media reports suggest a decision could be confirmed soon after Diwali. NewsNation reported, citing sources, that the announcement could come at a Prime Minister Modi rally in Bathinda. Neither party has confirmed this.

Have the BJP and SAD announced an alliance?

No. As of October 28, 2026, both parties have stayed silent on a formal announcement; the reports are based on sources.

Who is the rebel Akali faction in the talks?

It is Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), a splinter group seen as close to the BJP. Its accommodation is one of the two main hurdles.

How many seats did the BJP contest as an SAD ally?

It contested 23 of Punjab's 117 Assembly seats when it was SAD's junior partner before 2020.