Shah Signals Akali-BJP Alliance; Arora says INC Will Withdraw Welfare Schemes

October

2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has signaled the formalization of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) tie-up with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and splintered Akali Dal factions ahead of 2027 Punjab Legislative Assembly elections. Speaking in Delhi, Shah said, ‘Panjab mein is baar NDA (National Democratic Alliance) ki sarkar honey jaa rahi hai (Panjab is set to form an NDA government this time).’ Plans have been under way for SAD and Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit, revival, SAD PS) factions to join the NDA. Shah’s statement can be looked at as a formalization of this long-anticipated alliance which is yet to be officially announced. However, earlier Panjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, Shah, and other BJP leaders had emphasized that the party will contest all 117 seats in Panjab and there was no chance of an alliance. This came after several SAD leaders from Sri Muktsar Sahib, a senior SAD leader and advocate from Moga, Ramesh Grover, joined the BJP on 22 Oct. Concurrently, fresh talks have also begun between Akali Dal Waris Punjab De (WPD) and SAD PS for an alliance, but the WPD has reportedly demanded that six senior SAD PS leaders be kept out of the electoral contest on the grounds that they do not meet the Sikh community’s expectations of Panth (Sikh Collective)-approved leadership with a clean public image. Additionally, the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee chief launched a scathing attack on Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s Panjab visits ahead of the polls, saying that Panjab politics was receiving greater priority in his political engagements. He said, ‘Haryana needs a full-time chief minister, not a part-time one.’ Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh has expressed confidence that the party will return to power in Panjab, while ruling out a BJP victory in the state. His remarks come amid political discussions over Panjab’s electoral landscape and the pre-election buzz. Furthermore, Panjab AAP chief Aman Arora asked if the Indian National Congress (INC) would continue free electricity, the USD 10K government health insurance scheme, and financial assistance for women if it wins the elections. Arora alleged that an INC government would withdraw benefits currently available; it could reintroduce toll plazas, higher electricity, and canal water (earlier coverage).