Punjab’s recent rural body elections have changed the political scene. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 218 out of 346 zones in Zila Parishads and 1,529 out of 2,834 zones in Panchayat Samitis. The Congress secured 62 and 611 zones respectively, while the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) made a strong showing with 46 and 449 zones. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed only 7 and 73 zones. AAP credits this win to public trust. Opposition parties, however, claim misuse of power during the polls. The SAD’s gains signal it as a serious challenger for the 2027 Assembly elections, threatening Congress’s role as the main opposition. Despite heavy defeats in recent years, the SAD is making a comeback. The BJP’s poor results reveal its limited reach in Punjab’s rural areas. Party leaders now consider reviving an alliance with SAD to strengthen their chances. Capt. Amarinder Singh and BJP State president Sunil Jakhar have favored this idea. But some BJP members fear losing their independence, as the party had been the junior partner in the past alliance. The SAD left the National Democratic Alliance in 2020 over the farm laws issue. Since then, both parties have struggled alone in Punjab. The 2027 elections could be highly competitive if the SAD and BJP join forces. AAP, which won in 2022 as a fresh alternative, will face a tougher test based on its governance record. With SAD’s revival and a possible alliance against it, AAP’s path to retain power looks challenging.