According to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the annual Consumer Price Index has increased by 5.5 percent in the month of September, which is the highest rate in a long time.
The reported alliance between the Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP ahead of the 2027 Punjab elections comes with a major change in seat-sharing. BJP, which earlier contested just 23 seats, may now contest 47–48 of the 117 seats. This would give it a much larger role in the alliance. The final agreement is yet to be announced. If BJP gets nearly half the seats this time, will the Shiromani Akali Dal still be able to lead the alliance in Punjab or is it slowly giving up its position as the dominant partner ?
2027 के पंजाब चुनावों से पहले शिरोमणि अकाली दल और भाजपा के बीच प्रस्तावित गठबंधन में सीटों के बँटवारे को लेकर बड़ा बदलाव देखने को मिल रहा है। भाजपा, जो पहले केवल 23 सीटों पर चुनाव लड़ती थी, अब 117 में से 47–48 सीटों पर चुनाव लड़ सकती है। इससे गठबंधन में उसकी भूमिका काफी बढ़ जाएगी। हालाँकि, अंतिम समझौते की आधिकारिक घोषणा अभी बाकी है। अगर इस बार भाजपा को लगभग आधी सीटें मिलती हैं, तो क्या शिरोमणि अकाली दल पंजाब में गठबंधन का नेतृत्व कर पाएगा या फिर गठबंधन में अपनी प्रमुख साझेदार की भूमिका धीरे-धीरे खो देगा ?
Manpreet Singh Ayali says Akali Dal ‘Waris Punjab De’ will contest elections on its own symbol and is working to secure official party registration. But the possibility of a Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance could change Punjab's political equations. It may bring traditional Akali voters back under one larger political banner, leaving a new formation with a bigger challenge: convincing people why it deserves a separate place in Punjab politics. If the traditional Akali vote comes together again, what will be ‘Waris Punjab De's’ strongest reason to exist as a separate political force ?
