Sukhbir’s SAD Has Only 1 Lok Sabha MP, Then Why Is His U-Turn On Delimitation, Women’s Quota Crucial For BJP?

Published 9 August 2026 · politics

News explainers Sukhbir’s SAD Has Only 1 Lok Sabha MP, Then Why Is His U-Turn On Delimitation, Women’s Quota Crucial For BJP? Sukhbir’s SAD Has

News explainers Sukhbir’s SAD Has Only 1 Lok Sabha MP, Then Why Is His U-Turn On Delimitation, Women’s Quota Crucial For BJP? Sukhbir’s SAD Has Only 1 Lok Sabha MP, Then Why Is His U-Turn On Delimitation, Women’s Quota Crucial For BJP? Written By, Last Updated: August 09, 2026, 16:58 IST Within 24 hours of meeting PM Narendra Modi, Sukhbir’s SAD supports BJP’s delimitation, women’s quota push. Decoding NDA’s number game amid Punjab poll alliance buzz Rapid Read PM Narendra Modi; (right) SAD's Sukhbir Singh Badal. (File/X) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has taken a U-turn and is now supporting the uniform 50% seat-increase delimitation and women’s reservation, adding crucial momentum to the Democratic Alliance (NDA) numbers. The move will bridge the gap toward the coveted two-thirds constitutional majority the NDA needs in the Lok Sabha, say experts. The reversal of stance comes within 24 hours of Badal’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which sparked an alliance buzz ahead of Punjab elections. DELIMITATION, WOMEN’S QUOTA: NDA’s NUMBER GAME The NDA’s base strength previously hovered around 298–329 seats following earlier realignments and cross-overs, leaving it short of the strict two-thirds majority mark (roughly 360–362 members present and voting) required for a constitutional amendment. While SAD currently holds a very small footprint in Parliament with 1 Lok Sabha MP, Badal’s public endorsement breaks a critical psychological barrier and aligns with other fence-sitting or consolidating regional groups such as potential backing from parts of the opposition or aligned regional factions.

Combined with prior inflows such as rebel TMC and Shiv Sena (UBT) switchovers/leanings and prospective regional realignments, Badal’s support contributes to a broader arithmetic strategy to isolate the opposition INDIA bloc and cross the threshold required to pass both the delimitation and Women’s Reservation bills smoothly. 24 HOURS WITHIN SUKHBIR-MODI MEET Badal’s announcement follows a direct meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling a potential revival of the 23-year-old BJP-SAD alliance ahead of upcoming state elections in Punjab. In the previous session, a joint opposition successfully stalled the delimitation move. SAD’s switch from its prior stance, where it originally voted with the opposition terming the bill unfair to Punjab, fractures that unified resistance and validates the government’s uniform 50% increase formula. The long-standing speculation regarding a political reconciliation between the SAD and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reached a fever pitch. Recent strategic moves and high-level interactions point toward a formal revival of their alliance ahead of the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. KEY CATALYSTS BEHIND THE BUZZ Sukhbir Singh Badal held a significant, one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament House complex. This high-profile interaction instantly reignited talks of a political rapprochement. Within 24 hours of the meeting, the SAD officially broke away from the opposition’s stance.