Sukhbir Badal hits out against AAP, Congress, but softer on BJP at Jagraon rally; Shiromani Akali Dal pivots to rural heartland.

Ludhiana: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has signalled a potential thawing of relations with his former coalition partners, adopting a notably restrained tone toward the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a massive "Punjab Bachao" (Save Punjab) rally on Wednesday.Despite recent assertions by Union home minister Amit Shah that the BJP will contest the 2027 state elections alone, Sukhbir's 36-minute address spared the saffron party, largely . Instead, the former deputy chief minister trained his sights on the the Aam Aadmi Party (Punjab's governing side) and the Congress, accusing the "Delhi-based" outfits of betraying Punjab's interests.Strategic Rural OutreachThe rally in Jagraon marks a deliberate shift in the SAD's electoral roadmap. Party insiders suggest a "rural-first" strategy designed to fortify the party's traditional power base before expanding into urban centres. In a rapid mobilization, the party has conducted 17 rallies in a single month, targeting rural constituencies exclusively. Sukhbir is utilising the stage to announce candidates early, urging workers to remain "on the road" for the next three years.In Ludhiana, the campaign has hit Khanna, Samrala, Jagraon, and Sahnewal, conspicuously bypassing the district's urban seats.Warning Against ‘Agencies'Sukhbir advised voters to avoid "political experiments", referring to the AAP's 92-seat landslide in the previous assembly election. He alleged that central agencies were attempting to prop up "new entrants" or independent outfits to fragment the Panthic vote, similar to tactics allegedly used during the 2024 parliamentary polls. "People got emotional in 2024 and voted for those propped up by agencies," Sukhbir said. "Now, for the sake of Punjab, they must return to the 105-year-old Shiromani Akali Dal, the only party that feels the pain of this soil."Allegations of ‘Gangsterism'The SAD president levelled grave charges against the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP govt, accusing it of using criminal elements to subvert local democracy. Referring to the block samiti elections, Sukhbir claimed the AAP had "stolen" chairmanships in Baghapurana and Mansa despite lacking the numbers. He alleged the govt was utilising gangsters like Jaggu Bhagwanpuria to intimidate political opponents and forcing the media to "toe the line".Historical GrievancesThe SAD chief reiterated that national leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Arvind Kejriwal, and Rahul Gandhi had remained indifferent to Punjab's specific struggles, such as the Riparian water rights and the handover of Chandigarh. MSID:: 129656888 413 |