CHANDIGARH: Amid speculations that there could be a re-alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the upcoming 2027 Punjab Assembly Elections, earlier this week, former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
Sources said that Amarinder met PM Modi earlier this week and briefed him on Punjab's pressing issues, particularly drugs and gangsters, and the threat of terrorism sponsored by Pakistan, and how the Union Government and the BJP could help address these issues. It was also claimed that no political issue was discussed.
He is also scheduled to attend the launch function of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's book, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’.
Amarinder has always been saying that both SAD and BJP should ally with the state. In 2024, Amarinder had also advocated for a coalition between the SAD and BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. Amarinder had been saying for quite some time now that he is in favour of an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal, which is led by his one-time rival Sukhbir Singh Badal.
This meeting assumes significance at a time when the SAD and the BJP are learnt to be working towards announcing an alliance ahead of the Punjab Assembly election, with meetings expected between SAD president Sukhbir Badal and senior BJP leaders.
Two other senior BJP leaders, including former state president Sunil Jakhar and former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, are also in favour of the alliance.
Amarinder, who has been Chief Minister twice, from 2002 to 2007 and then again from 2017 to 2021, is among the few leaders whom Prime Minister Modi listens to and gives weight to. Besides, he has a deep insight into the state's affairs and security challenges, a factor that lends weight to his briefings to the Centre.