Akali Dal backs NDA's women's quota-delimitation bill as 2027 polls alliance rumours intensify

In a fresh push ahead of its delimitation bill coming up in the Parliament, the BJP-led NDA has now gained the support of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

In fact, after a meeting of its senior leaders in Chandigarh, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal declared that the women's quota bill, linked to the delimitation bill, be passed immediately.

"The Shiromani Akali Dal draws inspiration from the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, who championed the dignity, equality and equal rights of women," the party wrote in an X post, making a reference to the delimitation bill as well.

He added that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had already set an example by providing for women's reservation in its House.

This comes just a day after PM Narendra Modi met with SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, sparking claims of a possible tie-up between the BJP and the SAD just months ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections in Punjab.

While some have rejected the tie-up claims, reports say that the high-stakes meeting has nevertheless triggered discussions within both camps on what a possible alliance could look like, and whether it could unseat the AAP government.

Not only the SAD but also the SAD (Punar Surjit) is expecting an invitation from the BJP, which has so far claimed that it would be contesting the 2027 polls alone, a Times of India report said, citing a source in the know.

The source had added that lack of certainty around the BJP's stance is also likely to work to its advantage, likely because the SAD's split from the NDA in 2020 over farm laws enabled the latter to expand its independent political base, especially among Punjab's urban voters.

The source also pointed out that the equation between the jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh's Akali Dal Waris Punjab De could also play a role in the BJP's decision.

The Congress and the AAP are also said to be making moves to counter this alliance, should it happen.

In any case, a possible alliance between the two parties is also expected to help either side, with the saffron party's upgraded urban voter base and the SAD's traditional support base of rural Sikh farmers and Akal Takht-aligned voters.

It is yet to be seen how exactly the two parties will carry this forward into some sort of understanding, and whether it can muster enough support to actually take on the AAP.