Moga : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party will contest the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections independently, signalling an end to speculation about a possible alliance revival with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Declaring that the BJP will no longer play the role of “Chhota Bhai” (junior partner) in the state, Shah launched the party’s campaign from the politically significant Malwa region.
Addressing the Badlaav Rally at Killi Chahlan, Moga, Shah said the party now aims to form its own government in Punjab. “Whenever we came before you in the past, we were the junior partner. But from today, the BJP begins its campaign to form its own government in Punjab. You have tried the Congress, the Akalis and AAP; now give us a chance,” he told supporters.
Shah referred to the BJP’s 19 per cent vote share in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, despite the party not winning any seats. He cited examples of states such as Assam, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Manipur, where the BJP had earlier converted a similar vote share into electoral victories.
Highlighting a key poll promise, Shah said that if the BJP forms the government in Punjab, it will introduce an anti-conversion Bill within one month of taking office. He alleged that forced religious conversions remain a concern and accused rival parties of ignoring the issue for vote-bank politics.
The Home Minister also launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing it of neglecting the state. He alleged that Punjab’s resources are being used for the national expansion of AAP under Arvind Kejriwal.
On the issue of drugs, Shah said that nearly 45 per cent of heroin smuggling cases in the country are linked to Punjab. He promised that a BJP government would eliminate the drug menace within two years, drawing parallels with the Centre’s actions against Naxalism and the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India.
Shah’s remarks mark a significant shift in Punjab’s political landscape, with the BJP signalling its intention to emerge as a major independent force in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.