Chandigarh, Oct. 9 -- The Centre's categorical opposition to commuting the death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, has added another layer of uncertainty to the potential revival of the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ahead of the high-stakes Punjab assembly elections due early next year.

Political circles are abuzz with speculation that the BJP and SAD could explore a renewed electoral understanding for the 2027 polls, although neither party has officially announced a decision to revive their alliance. The issue of Rajoana's death sentence has again brought into focus differences between the two parties over m...