SAD Backs Delimitation and Women’s Reservation Bills, Fuels Fresh Alliance Buzz With BJP
Mumbai: A day after Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Punjab-based party on Saturday announced its support for the Centre’s proposed Delimitation exercise and called for the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
The development has sparked fresh political speculation about a possible rapprochement between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its former ally ahead of the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections.
Addressing key issues currently under discussion at the national level, the SAD leadership, after a meeting of senior party leaders in Chandigarh, endorsed a proposal for a uniform increase in parliamentary seats across all states and urged the Centre to move forward with both the delimitation process and women’s reservation without delay.
Sharing the party’s position on social media platform X, Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “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.”
Highlighting the party’s ideological stand on women’s empowerment, he added, “The Shiromani Akali Dal draws inspiration from the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, who championed the dignity, equality and equal rights of women. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has already set an example by providing for women’s reservation in its House.”
Badal further stated, “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.”
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.
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) August 8, 2026
The Shiromani Akali Dal draws inspiration from the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, who championed the dignity,… pic.twitter.com/y7VP39zdyk
Explaining the party’s support for the Centre’s proposal, he said, “The Shiromani Akali Dal supported the proposal which was put up by the Government of India at the floor of the house of uniform increase of 50% of seats of all states. The party emphasised that women’s reservation and Delimitation should be done immediately.”
The party’s endorsement marks a significant shift from its earlier stance. Earlier this year, SAD had opposed the Delimitation Bill in Parliament and voted against it alongside opposition parties. At the time, the party had argued that the proposal was unfair to Punjab and could result in the state receiving a comparatively smaller increase in representation than neighbouring states.
The latest announcement comes amid growing speculation over a possible political reunion between the BJP and SAD, whose decades-long alliance ended ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.
The speculation intensified after Sukhbir Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. According to sources, the meeting included discussions on Punjab’s political situation, governance issues and law-and-order concerns in the state.
While reports suggested that the possibility of reviving the BJP-SAD alliance was also discussed, Badal reportedly maintained that it was premature to comment on any electoral understanding at this stage.
The meeting and the party’s altered position on key national issues have nevertheless reignited discussions about a potential political realignment in Punjab as parties begin preparing for the next Assembly elections.
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