Parkash Badal's cousin joins BJP, jolt to Akali Dal amid alliance talks

Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's cousin, Major (retired) Bhupinder Singh Dhillon joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chandigarh on Monday, giving a political jolt to the Badal family at a time when the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are signalling a possible alliance ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.

Bhupinder Singh Dhillon, popularly known as Major Bhup, joined the BJP along with his son Amarvir Singh Bawa. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon inducted the two into the party.

The 78-year-old Bhupinder Dhillon is a senior member of the Badal family and served as Parkash Singh Badal's political secretary during the SAD-BJP government. He was also given the rank of Minister of State during the alliance government.

Bhupinder Dhillon is the son of former Rajya Sabha member Gurraj Singh Badal, who was the younger brother of Parkash Singh Badal's father, Raghuraj Singh. His ancestral home in Badal village is located next to the old residence of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

His move to the BJP assumes significance as the party works to expand its footprint in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. He is now being seen as a potential BJP face in the Badal family's traditional stronghold of Lambi.

Speaking after joining the BJP, Bhupinder Dhillon said he was impressed by the work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and indicated that he could become active in electoral politics. He also hinted that he would add "Badal" to his name.

However, he said he had no grievance against his nephew and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal.BJP-SAD ALLIANCE TALKS

The development comes against the backdrop of renewed speculation over a possible BJP-SAD alliance for the 2027 Punjab polls.

The two parties had been allies in Punjab for decades before their relationship broke down over the Centre's farm laws. SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the Union Cabinet in 2020, after which the Akali Dal walked out of the alliance. The split proved costly for both parties in the 2022 Assembly elections, when the Aam Aadmi Party swept the state. The SAD won three seats, while the BJP secured two.

The alliance buzz has intensified in recent weeks following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sukhbir Singh Badal, the first such meeting between the two leaders in several years. Several SAD leaders have since indicated that they favour a reunion.

SAD general secretary Bikram Singh Majithia had described an alliance with the BJP as the "need of the hour", arguing that the partnership was important for Punjab's law and order, communal harmony and national security. He also said circumstances had changed since the farm laws controversy and that the parties needed to "change gear".

The BJP, however, has made it clear that any renewed alliance would not necessarily resemble the old arrangement. Punjab BJP vice-president Fateh Jang Bajwa said the party was preparing to contest all 117 Assembly seats and would consider an alliance only if the BJP was given the "bigger brother" role.

That would mean a larger share of Assembly seats and potentially a claim to the chief minister's post. The BJP has argued that its organisational strength in Punjab has grown significantly at the grassroots level and that it is no longer the same party it was when the earlier alliance was in place.

The BJP's position has gained weight after its vote share in Punjab rose to 18.56 per cent in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, ahead of the SAD's 13.42 per cent, although the BJP failed to win a seat. The SAD, meanwhile, retained the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat.

Against this backdrop, the decision of a senior member of the Badal family to join the BJP adds another layer to the evolving political equation. While neither party has formally announced a renewed alliance, the two sides have increasingly signalled that the possibility is being actively considered.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Sep 14, 2026 20:54 IST