Amid ongoing discussions regarding a potential alliance between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), recent events in Punjab indicate a far more intricate and dynamic political situation.<\/p>\n
In the past four months, there has been a notable exchange of political figures not only between SAD and BJP but also involving breakaway factions like SAD Punarsurjit. This movement transcends ideological boundaries and party lines, signaling a significant realignment in the state’s political framework.<\/p>\n
The current phase of this political reshuffling commenced on January 16, 2026, when former SAD members Jagmeet Singh Brar and his brother Ripjeet Singh Brar announced their entry into the BJP. This shift was particularly meaningful, as the Brar family had a long history with the Congress party, despite their father\u2019s ties to SAD.<\/p>\n
Jagmeet Singh Brar, who previously served as a Congress MP and defeated Sukhbir Singh Badal in Faridkot back in 1999, had affiliated with SAD in 2019 but was expelled in October 2022. During his tenure with SAD, he held the position of senior vice-president and ran unsuccessfully for the Maur Assembly seat.<\/p>\n
On the same day, Charanjit Singh Brar, a former political advisor to Sukhbir Singh Badal during his tenure as Deputy Chief Minister, also joined the BJP. After being expelled from SAD in 2022 due to the party’s lackluster performance in the Assembly elections, he had aligned with the rebel faction SAD Punarsurjit, led by Giani Harpreet Singh, advocating for a change in leadership. He is currently contributing to BJP\u2019s organizational efforts.<\/p>\n
However, the political shifts have not been solely one-sided. On February 15, former BJP state vice-president Arvind Khanna rejoined SAD alongside a district president from BJP and several municipal councillors from Sangrur. Khanna’s political journey, which has included stints with Youth Akali Dal, Congress, a hiatus from politics, and a brief period with BJP, illustrates the fluid loyalties that characterize Punjab’s political scene.<\/p>\n
The most pronounced changes have occurred within the Akali ranks. In early March, Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan, in charge of the Hoshiarpur constituency for SAD Punarsurjit, rejoined the SAD led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, bringing several leaders from the rebel faction with him. This was further complemented by the return of Barjinder Singh, known as Makhan Brar, the son of former minister Tota Singh, on April 7.<\/p>\n
Makhan Brar openly criticized SAD Punarsurjit, stating that it was established to undermine the oldest regional political party. Prior to his return, former minister Baldev Singh Mann and ex-MP Bibi Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal had also rejoined SAD, which the party is highlighting as evidence of the declining strength of the rebel faction.<\/p>\n
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has echoed this sentiment, claiming that Makhan Brar\u2019s return signifies the \u201cvirtual end\u201d of the rebel faction, which he often refers to as the \u201cChullah Dal.\u201d Brar has urged the people of Punjab to remain alert against individuals allegedly working to weaken SAD.<\/p>\n
Concurrently, the BJP has been broadening its outreach towards panthic and Akali-affiliated leaders. On March 30, SGPC member and SAD national vice-president Charanjit Singh Kalewal, along with other SAD leaders, joined the BJP. BJP leader Ashwani Sharma welcomed them, asserting that their experience and commitment to panthic values would aid in expanding the party’s base.<\/p>\n
The BJP’s outreach continued on April 1, with the addition of former AAP MLA and senior Supreme Court advocate H S Phoolka. Phoolka had previously indicated his intention to join SAD as part of a membership drive initiated by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh in December 2024, but factional disputes and the emergence of groups like SAD Punarsurjit appear to have obstructed that path.<\/p>\n
This engagement with Akali-affiliated leaders has been ongoing, with Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Harmeet Singh Kalka having joined the BJP from Akali ranks as early as December 2021. The trend has intensified since 2024, with figures like Ravikaran Singh Kahlon and Jagdeep Singh Cheema also making the switch to BJP, reinforcing this pattern.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, SAD has been regaining ground, not only from the rebel faction but also from the BJP. Mohan Lal Banga, a two-time MLA from the Doaba region and son of former BJP minister Chaudhary Swarna Ram, switched to SAD from BJP in March 2026. Similarly, Ludhiana-based BJP leader Amit Gosain, son of former minister Satpal Gosain, made a comparable move.<\/p>\n
BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal framed these shifts as indicative of growing support for the party, asserting that the influx of panthic leaders signifies that \u201conly BJP can save Punjab.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the simultaneous trend of leaders returning to SAD and the observable decline of the rebel faction suggest a more intricate reality. While discussions about alliances continue privately, leaders are actively reassessing their positions and strategizing for upcoming elections.<\/p>\n
Leaders from the rebel faction remain resolute, with SAD Punarsurjit president Giani Harpreet Singh vowing never to align with the SAD led by Sukhbir Singh Badal and countering criticisms from those who have returned to the party. Meanwhile, Manpreet Singh Ayali, a rebel SAD MLA now associated with SAD Punarsurjit, emphasized the importance of \u201cpanthic unity,\u201d suggesting that achieving such unity would diminish the significance of individual factions, including SAD under Sukhbir Singh Badal.<\/p>\n
While political cues at the top may indicate potential convergence, the ongoing movement of leaders across different parties reveals a fragmented and competitive environment, where political alignments are still fluid and unresolved.<\/p>\n
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