No Alliance Yet? BJP Says It Will Contest All 117 Punjab Assembly Seats

The BJP will contest all 117 Punjab Assembly seats in the 2027 elections, senior party leader B L Santosh said, signalling preparations for a solo contest despite renewed speculation over a possible alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Addressing a zonal meeting in Patiala during his two-day organisational visit, Santosh said the BJP was confident of winning and forming the government in Punjab. The party is focusing on strengthening its organisation up to the booth level and expanding its grassroots presence.

The BJP’s stance comes against the backdrop of its long political association with the SAD. The two parties were allies for decades and fought several elections together under the National Democratic Alliance. However, the SAD quit the NDA in September 2020 over the three farm laws. The laws were later repealed, but the alliance was not restored.

Recent statements by SAD leaders, including Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia, and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi had renewed speculation about a reunion. The BJP’s latest declaration, however, indicates that it is preparing for an independent electoral strategy.

Punjab is strategically important for the BJP as it seeks to expand beyond its traditional urban and Hindu support base and establish a stronger presence in a state where regional and national parties compete intensely. The 2027 contest is currently shaping up as a multi-cornered battle involving the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, SAD, BJP and smaller Akali factions.

The Punjab Assembly elections are due in early 2027, with all 117 seats up for election. The present Assembly was constituted in March 2022, and the Election Commission generally announces the detailed schedule several weeks before the end of the five-year term.

Santosh’s visit comes amid dissent within the state BJP over a recent organisational reshuffle. The party is also reviewing its preparedness across Punjab, with further zonal meetings scheduled in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar.

With the BJP now publicly preparing to contest every seat, the possibility of a renewed BJP-SAD alliance remains a key question as Punjab’s political battle moves towards 2027.