Shiromani Akali Dal: Back in the game in Punjab

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) victory in Punjab’s recent Zila Parishad (district council) and Panchayat Samiti (block council) elections was not surprising. Yet, the results show a shifting political landscape. They indicate that the Congress, the principal Opposition party in the State, may no longer be the obvious challenger to the AAP. The stronger-than-anticipated performance of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) signals its emergence as a serious contender in the 2027 Assembly elections.

The results for the rural body polls, held on December 14 to elect the members from the 346 zones of 22 Zila Parishads, showed the AAP capturing 218 zones. The Congress won 62, the SAD 46, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seven, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) three, and independents 10. In the polls held in 2,834 zones of 153 Panchayat Samitis, the AAP won 1,529, the Congress 611, the SAD 449, the BJP 73, the BSP 28, and independents 144. The AAP has termed the results as a reflection of the people’s trust in its government, while the Opposition parties have accused it of misusing its power during the polls.

The rural body poll results, following last month’s Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll, suggest that the SAD is steadily regaining electoral ground and positioning itself as a credible contender for 2027. Meanwhile, the Congress, which appeared poised to be AAP’s main challenger after its strong 2024 Lok Sabha performance, can no longer take electoral success for granted. The momentum that seemed to be building in its favour appears to be fading. For the SAD, which suffered crushing defeats in the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the tally may be modest, but the gains represent meaningful progress towards the century-old party’s political rehabilitation.

Punjab’s 2027 Assembly election could witness a far more compelling and unpredictable contest if the SAD and the BJP decide to resurrect their once-formidable alliance. For the BJP, the dismal showing in the polls serves as a stark reminder that its own electoral machinery remains insufficient to penetrate Punjab’s hinterland. Clearly, the people are not ready for the party and the political terrain is far from receptive to the BJP’s solo ambitions. Given this situation, an alliance may be an option for it to consider. The electoral arithmetic presents a compelling case for reconciliation as the BJP has a substantial voter base in Punjab’s urban centres, industrial towns, and semi-urban constituencies, while the SAD has deep roots and enjoys organisational strength across the State’s rural regions.

Recently, the BJP’s national executive member, Capt. Amarinder Singh, advocated for an alliance between the two former partners. Those in political circles are watching the situation closely as there is speculation every now and then about the SAD and the BJP potentially joining hands again ahead of the Assembly elections. Earlier, the BJP State president, Sunil Jakhar, a former Congressman, had also favoured the idea of an alliance. But not everyone in the party is on the same page over this, and there is a reason for it. Over the years, the BJP has contested electoral battles in Punjab as a ‘junior partner’ in an alliance with the SAD. The old guard in the party’s State unit believe that this restricted the BJP’s growth beyond urban centres. After the SAD quit the alliance, the BJP has been pushing for its expansion across the State. At this point, reviving an alliance with the SAD would amount to relinquishing the autonomy the BJP fought so hard to establish.

The SAD and the BJP were alliance partners from 1996. However, when controversy broke out over the Centre’s farm laws (which were later repealed), the SAD, one of the BJP’s oldest allies, decided to break away from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2020. Since then, both the parties have been struggling independently in Punjab’s complex political landscape.

The AAP, which swept to power in Punjab in 2022 by positioning itself as an alternative to traditional parties, will face a different challenge in 2027. This time, it would be assessed by the people on its performance and governance record rather than its novelty factor, which played a key role in its previous victory. Moreover, with the SAD showing signs of revival, and with there being a possibility of the SAD and the BJP joining hands before the polls, the AAP could face formidable obstacles in its bid to retain power.