In a significant revival of political tradition, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to hold a major rally at the historic Maghi Mela in Muktsar this year, marking its return to the religious fair after a gap of eight years. This move comes a decade after the party first sounded its poll bugle for the 2017 Punjab assembly elections at the same venue in 2016.
Breaking the Political Pause
The decision by AAP to return to the Maghi Mela grounds follows a prolonged period of political abstinence at the religious event. After 2018, most parties, except the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), stopped organizing political conferences here. This was in adherence to a directive from the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, which advised against holding political events during major religious occasions.
This year, however, the political landscape at the Mela is changing dramatically. Not only is AAP making a comeback, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also planning its maiden rally at the event. The Congress party, in contrast, has decided to continue its stay away from holding a political conference at the religious gathering.
A Three-Cornered Political Show
The conferences at this year's Maghi Mela are poised to be a major political spectacle, with three key parties vying for attention. AAP's Muktsar MLA, Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar, confirmed to the Times of India that the party has decided to hold a conference and is in the process of finalizing a site.
On the other side, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal is personally overseeing preparations for a massive conference, aiming for a large turnout. He is reportedly calling leaders and activists to his residence to ensure strong participation. SAD will use its traditional site owned by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
The BJP, entering the fray for the first time, has selected a site close to the Akali Dal venue on the Muktsar-Malout road. Bikramjit Singh Cheema, the party's state vice-president, stated that district units have requested the participation of Union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Hardeep Singh Puri, and Ravneet Singh Bittu, along with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
Additionally, factions like Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) and SAD (Amritsar) will also hold their own conferences.
Echoes of 2016 and the Road to 2027
AAP's return evokes memories of its grand show in January 2016. Buoyed by its performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, where it won four seats in Punjab on its debut, the party put on its biggest show at the Mela. Its national convener Arvind Kejriwal and the then Sangrur MP, Bhagwant Mann (now Punjab Chief Minister), addressed the conference, effectively launching the campaign for the 2017 assembly elections nearly 1.5 years in advance.
Today, the political stakes are framed differently. SAD's Sukhbir Singh Badal has declared that "The Maghi conference will set the tone for SAD to gain power in Punjab in 2027, as people are getting ready to throw out AAP." This statement underscores the Mela's renewed role as a crucial platform for setting the narrative for future electoral battles.
The Significance of Maghi Mela
Maghi Mela is observed in Muktsar in solemn remembrance of the sacrifice of 40 Sikh warriors, known as the Chali Mukte. They died fighting the Mughal forces in the Battle of Khidrana in 1705, defending Guru Gobind Singh. Historically, these warriors had earlier deserted the Guru but returned to fight for him, sacrificing their lives. Moved by their martyrdom, the tenth Sikh Guru tore up their letter of disownment (Bedava). The Mela transforms the city into a hub of religious and, now, significant political activity.
The return of political rallies to this sombre occasion indicates a shift in strategy for Punjab's parties as they begin to lay the groundwork for the next state assembly elections, making the 2025 Maghi Mela a key event to watch.
