The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has changed its position on the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise, announcing support for the Delimitation Bill along with immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The announcement came a day after SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, adding fresh fuel to speculation over the political equations between the former allies ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections.
SAD Calls for Immediate Women’s Reservation
Following a meeting of senior party leaders in Chandigarh on Saturday, Badal said the party wants the Women’s Reservation Bill to be implemented without further delay.
“The Shiromani Akali Dal, at a meeting of its senior leaders in Chandigarh today, demanded the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the country,” Badal posted on X.
He linked the party’s position to Sikh teachings on equality and the rights of women, pointing to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s decision to provide reservation for women in its House.
Akali Dal Backs Delimitation With Conditions
The SAD also supported the government’s proposal to increase the number of seats across states by 50 per cent.
Badal said the party had backed the proposal but stressed that the delimitation process must ensure fair representation for every state.
“The Shiromani Akali Dal supported the proposal which was put up by Govt of India at the floor of the house of uniform increase of 50% of seats of all states,” he said.
He added that the party wanted both women’s reservation and delimitation to move forward immediately.
“After detailed deliberations on key issues before Parliament, the Shiromani Akali Dal also demanded a fair and equitable Delimitation that ensures equal representation to all States,” Badal said.
Why SAD’s U-Turn Matters
The SAD had earlier opposed the Delimitation Bill when it was introduced in Parliament in April. The party had voted against the proposal alongside Opposition parties and raised concerns over its potential impact on Punjab’s political representation.
The party had argued that Punjab could receive only a limited increase in seats while neighbouring states could gain considerably more.
Its latest decision to support the proposal therefore marks a notable shift in its position.
Sukhbir Badal’s Meeting With PM Modi Adds Political Buzz
The timing of the announcement has also attracted attention. Badal met PM Modi at Parliament House on Friday, shortly before the SAD publicly declared its support for the government’s position.
The meeting has already fuelled speculation about whether the BJP and SAD could revive their political partnership ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
The two parties were once long-standing allies but parted ways before the 2022 Punjab polls. With the next Assembly election less than a year away, any renewed understanding between the BJP and SAD could significantly reshape Punjab’s electoral contest.
For now, the SAD’s support for delimitation and women’s reservation has opened a new chapter in the political debate, while questions over a possible BJP-SAD alliance remain unanswered.
