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Chandigarh: In a development laden with political signalling, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, BJP Punjab working president Ashwani Sharma and Radha Soami Satsang Beas chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon on Tuesday participated in Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria’s foot march against drugs in Ferozepur, setting off intense speculation about shifting political alignments in the state.
The event marked the first time since the SAD–BJP split in 2020 that senior leaders of the two former allies appeared on a shared public platform. The optics of the moment—particularly amid growing concern over the drug menace in Punjab—have been widely interpreted as more than a coincidence, with political observers reading the march as a possible soft launch of renewed engagement between the two parties.
The anti-drug campaign itself carries broader implications. With narcotics emerging as one of the most emotive public issues in Punjab, participation in the Governor-led initiative allows both the SAD and the BJP to signal moral authority, social responsibility and a shared commitment to reclaiming political ground from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, which has repeatedly come under attack over its handling of the drug crisis.
The presence of Gurinder Singh Dhillon, the influential head of Dera Beas, has added a powerful new dimension to the political churn. Dhillon, who commands a vast following cutting across caste and regional lines in Punjab and neighbouring states, had recently met jailed SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia in Nabha Jail. This visit had already triggered political speculation.
Political circles see Dhillon’s participation alongside BJP and SAD leaders as lending credibility to rumours of a broader realignment. Some BJP insiders privately suggest that sections of the party view the Dera chief as a potential consensus figure who could provide the BJP with social legitimacy and electoral traction in Punjab—fueling talk that he could even emerge as a chief ministerial face if the party decides on an unconventional but high-impact strategy.
The convergence has also revived speculation of a possible SAD–BJP alliance revival ahead of the next Assembly elections. While neither side has acknowledged any formal engagement, the shared platform, combined with behind-the-scenes contacts, is seen as a tentative confidence-building step after years of political estrangement.
Interestingly, while Dhillon and Ashwani Sharma flanked the Governor throughout the ‘padyatra’, Sukhbir Singh Badal joined the programme towards its conclusion and did not directly interact with the BJP leader, indicating that the outreach remains cautious and calibrated rather than overt.
Nevertheless, the visual messaging from Ferozepur has been unmistakable. An anti-drug march meant to highlight a social crisis has simultaneously opened the door to fresh political possibilities—raising questions about opposition unity, ideological recalibration and whether Punjab may be heading towards an unexpected political reconfiguration in the run-up to the next electoral battle.
