Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) called for the "immediate" implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill and expressed support for the delimitation exercise following a meeting of its senior leaders in Chandigarh on August 8, 2026. The move came a day after SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reigniting speculation about a potential revival of the SAD-BJP alliance ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Badal posted on X stating that the party had demanded the urgent passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill and emphasized the need for a fair and equitable delimitation process that would ensure equal representation for all states. The meeting of senior SAD leaders took place at Badal’s residence in Chandigarh, where they discussed key issues before Parliament. According to Badal, the party endorsed the government’s proposal for a uniform 50% increase in Lok Sabha seats for all states, rather than basing delimitation on the 2011 Census. He reiterated that the SAD believed both the Women’s Reservation Bill and delimitation should be implemented without further delay. The party previously opposed delimitation based on the 2011 Census but, after internal discussions, decided to back the central government’s plan for a uniform expansion of seats. The SAD currently holds one seat in the Lok Sabha, represented by Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Bathinda constituency in Punjab. Badal’s statements follow his meeting with PM Modi on August 7, 2026, which raised expectations of a renewed political relationship between the two parties. The SAD had parted ways with the BJP in 2020 over disagreements regarding the Centre’s farm laws, which were later repealed in 2021. Since then, both parties have struggled to regain their previous dominance in Punjab, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal has emerged as the leading political force. The Centre is working to gather support for the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which aims to provide 33% reservation for women in legislatures starting in 2029 and to redraw Lok Sabha constituencies, potentially increasing the total number of seats to 816. However, some opposition parties, especially those from southern India, have resisted delimitation tied to updated population data, arguing that states like Tamil Nadu should not face penalties for successful population control efforts. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently accused the government of trying to diminish Tamil Nadu’s influence in Parliament and urged other parties to oppose the measure. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju denied reports of a planned special parliamentary session from August 16 to 18 to discuss the two bills, though discussions with political parties continue during the ongoing Monsoon Session. Meanwhile, the SAD’s backing of the Centre’s proposals has heightened interest in Punjab, where the BJP has stated it intends to contest all 117 seats independently. However, the SAD’s recent stance adds a new layer of complexity to the political landscape, raising questions about whether the renewed engagement between the two parties might lead to an electoral alliance. SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema confirmed that the party had met with PM Modi but declined to comment directly on the possibility of an alliance. He suggested that the comments made by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal about a potential SAD-BJP partnership reflected "fear" within the AAP. When asked about the prospect of an alliance, Cheema said, "I just have to say the things that were decided today. My own viewpoint is with the party viewpoint." Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon attempted to downplay the significance of the meeting, noting that the Prime Minister was available to meet with anyone and avoiding direct commentary on a potential alliance. The political climate in Punjab remains uncertain as the state prepares for Assembly elections scheduled for early 2027. While the BJP has publicly committed to contesting all seats on its own, the SAD’s recent alignment with the Centre’s agenda has introduced a new dynamic that observers are closely monitoring.
★
Mantengamos las noticias honestas.
ObjectiveNews se financia con los lectores y no tiene anuncios: te mostramos el sesgo en lugar de ocultarlo. Apoya el periodismo independiente por 4 €/mes.
Hazte suscriptor
India
