Pre-Election Update : CR Patil, Nitin Nabin to Visit Punjab; BJP Steps Up Political Activity Amid Akali-BJP Alliance Buzz
CR Patil to Meet Punjab BJP and RSS Leaders in Chandigarh; Nitin Nabin to Flag Off ‘Samrasta Sankalp Yatra’ from Jalandhar
At the same time, reports suggest that a section of the RSS and BJP leadership is strongly opposed to the proposed alliance and is actively lobbying against it
By Baljit Balli / Babushahi Network
Chandigarh/Jalandhar, November 15, 2026: With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections drawing closer, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to be stepping up its political activities in the state. The upcoming visits of Union Minister CR Patil on November 17 and BJP National President Nitin Nabin on November 18 are being viewed in political circles as part of the party’s efforts to strengthen its organisational and political outreach in Punjab.
According to information available, Union Minister CR Patil will visit Punjab and Chandigarh on November 17. He is scheduled to attend a function at Chandigarh University (CU), Gharuan. During his visit, he is also likely to hold a meeting with senior BJP and RSS leaders at the Punjab BJP office in Chandigarh.
Sources indicate that Patil is expected to return to Delhi late in the evening on the same day. His visit assumes political significance amid growing speculation about a possible revival of the Akali-BJP alliance ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
It is worth recalling that, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CR Patil was the first prominent BJP leader to meet Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal in Delhi following the attack on Badal in Nanded. The meeting had attracted considerable political attention amid discussions about the possibility of renewed ties between the two parties.
Although Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stated on two occasions that an NDA government would be formed in Punjab, and leaders of both parties have largely stopped making public statements against each other, there has so far been no official announcement or confirmation from the leadership of either the Akali Dal or the BJP regarding an alliance. However, a series of unofficial indications and political leaks have fuelled hopes of a possible rapprochement between the two parties.At the same time, reports suggest that a section of the RSS and BJP leadership is strongly opposed to the proposed alliance and is actively lobbying against it, with efforts reportedly being made from Chandigarh to Delhi to prevent any such understanding.
Former Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar, in an exclusive podcast with Baljit Balli, Editor-in-Chief of Babushahi News Network, on November 12, strongly advocated the need for a credible and moderate Akali Dal in Punjab, indirectly lending support to the idea of a possible Akali-BJP alliance.
He cautioned that in the absence of a moderate Akali political force, extremist elements could find space to grow in Punjab. His remarks assume significance amid renewed speculation over a possible revival of the Akali-BJP alliance ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Adding another dimension to the debate, an RSS worker, speaking to Babushahi Network off the record, expressed the view that there was little possibility of an Akali-BJP alliance. The leader cited the past anti-BJP and anti-RSS stance and conduct of Akali leaders, as well as the positions and role played by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and even the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib on various issues. According to this RSS leader, these past developments could make it difficult for sections of the Sangh and BJP leadership to accept a renewed alliance.
These contrasting signals indicate that, despite the apparent softening of public positions, the question of an Akali-BJP alliance may still face considerable resistance within sections of the two organisations.
Meanwhile, BJP National President Nitin Nabin will visit Jalandhar on November 18 to flag off the ‘Samrasta Sankalp Yatra’, dedicated to the 650th Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji. He is also expected to address a large public gathering on the occasion.
The yatra will commence on November 18 from near Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar and conclude in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on December 5. It will pass through 46 cities across seven states and Union Territories, including Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
The Ravidassia community holds considerable significance in Punjab's political landscape. The community follows the teachings of Sri Guru Ravidas Ji, the great 15th-century saint and an important figure in the Bhakti movement.
Dera Sachkhand Ballan, located in Ballan village near Jalandhar, is one of the largest and most influential spiritual centres of the Ravidassia community. The Dera has played a significant role in strengthening the community's distinct religious identity, promoting social welfare activities and shaping its socio-political influence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also visited the Dera to pay his respects. The support of the Ravidassia community is considered politically significant and potentially decisive in Punjab elections. Consequently, political parties across the spectrum have consistently made efforts to reach out to the community and secure its support.
The back-to-back visits of two senior BJP leaders, particularly at a time when speculation over the Akali-BJP alliance is gaining momentum, are likely to add to the political activity in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls. Whether these visits will lead to any concrete political developments on the alliance front remains to be seen.