📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Preet Manak Singh
Politics
BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal Join Forces in Punjab, Raise Concerns Over Anti-Drug Drive
✍️ Amar Ujala · Punjab
🗓 22 Oct 2026, 05:32 AM
👁 24
The Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiromani Akali Dal have announced a political partnership in Punjab, while observers warn that the anti‑drug campaign may lose momentum.
Punjab's political landscape witnessed a new development as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) confirmed a joint arrangement ahead of upcoming elections. The two parties, traditionally aligned at the national level, reiterated their shared agenda on development and governance, signaling a coordinated campaign across the state.
However, political analysts and civil‑society groups have expressed apprehension that the alliance could dilute the focus on Punjab's long‑standing drug problem. They argue that the anti‑drug drive, which has been a priority for successive governments, may receive less attention amid the broader electoral calculations.
Both parties have not provided detailed policy outlines, but they emphasized cooperation on issues such as infrastructure, agriculture and law‑and‑order. The next steps involve joint rallies and a coordinated outreach to the electorate, with the anti‑drug narrative expected to feature in campaign speeches, albeit under the shadow of the partnership's strategic considerations.
Stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the BJP‑SAD collaboration will translate into concrete measures against narcotics or remain a political convenience. The outcome could shape Punjab's approach to drug control for the coming years.
However, political analysts and civil‑society groups have expressed apprehension that the alliance could dilute the focus on Punjab's long‑standing drug problem. They argue that the anti‑drug drive, which has been a priority for successive governments, may receive less attention amid the broader electoral calculations.
Both parties have not provided detailed policy outlines, but they emphasized cooperation on issues such as infrastructure, agriculture and law‑and‑order. The next steps involve joint rallies and a coordinated outreach to the electorate, with the anti‑drug narrative expected to feature in campaign speeches, albeit under the shadow of the partnership's strategic considerations.
Stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the BJP‑SAD collaboration will translate into concrete measures against narcotics or remain a political convenience. The outcome could shape Punjab's approach to drug control for the coming years.