The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has signaled a significant political resurgence in the rural heartland of Punjab's southern Malwa region. The party's impressive performance in the recent zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections points to a revival of its traditional rural base.
Dominant Performance in Key Districts
The electoral results paint a clear picture of the Akali Dal's renewed strength. The party achieved its most decisive victory in the Bathinda district, which is represented in the Lok Sabha by the party's sole MP, Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Here, SAD won a commanding 13 out of 17 zones in the zila parishad. Furthermore, it secured control over 79 out of 137 zones in the Bathinda panchayat samiti.
In the neighboring Muktsar district, the party emerged as the single largest entity. It won 7 out of 13 zones in the zila parishad and 48 out of 95 zones in the district's panchayat samiti.
Significant Gains Across Southern Malwa
The revival was not confined to just two districts. The Akali Dal made substantial inroads in other parts of the region as well. In the Faridkot zila parishad, the party captured 5 out of 10 zones and won 25 out of 65 zones in the panchayat samiti. In Mansa, it secured 4 out of 11 zones in the zila parishad and 33 out of 86 zones in the panchayat samiti.
The party's success translated into direct administrative control over several local bodies. In Bathinda district, SAD now controls the Goniana, Nathana, Bathinda, and Sangat panchayat samitis. In Muktsar district, it gained control of the Muktsar and Lambi panchayat samitis.
Path to Majority in Mansa
The party is also on the verge of securing a majority in the Mansa panchayat samiti, where it won 12 out of 25 zones, putting it in a very strong position. Overall, these results mean the Shiromani Akali Dal now controls two out of 22 zila parishads in Punjab (elections for Mohali were not held) and six out of 153 panchayat samitis.
This electoral performance is being widely interpreted as a clear indicator that the Akali Dal is regaining its footing and reconnecting with its core voter base in the crucial rural areas of southern Malwa. The results provide the party with a much-needed morale boost and a solid organizational foundation for future political contests.
