Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal meets PM Modi

New Delhi: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, igniting speculation about the possibility of the Punjab-based party joining hands with the BJP again ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections.

The SAD left the NDA six years ago over the farm laws issue.

SAD chief Badal met the prime minister at his office in the Parliament House complex, sources aware of the meeting said.


The details of the meeting was not known immediately but the interaction ignited speculations that the SAD may join hands again with the BJP.

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The SAD was one of the oldest constituents of the NDA with more than 20 years of association when it left the alliance in 2020 over the three agriculture laws, which were later withdrawn by the Modi government.

Badal's wife and Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal was also part of the Modi government as a minister with Cabinet rank.

Punjab Assembly election is due early next year.