In a strategic move targeting the upcoming 2027 Punjab Legislative Assembly elections, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has unveiled plans for an extensive series of political rallies across the state. The announcement came following a crucial meeting of the party's district presidents and constituency in-charges, which was chaired by SAD president Sukhbir Badal.
Statewide Outreach Campaign to Commence Next Month
The regional party has decided to organize rallies in every assembly constituency of Punjab starting from next month. This ambitious outreach initiative aims to educate Punjabis about the party's historical contributions to the state's development while presenting its comprehensive vision for governance should it secure power in the forthcoming elections.
Emphasis on Development Legacy and Future Vision
Senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema, providing details about the meeting, revealed that Sukhbir Badal strongly emphasized the unprecedented development achievements of previous Akali Dal governments. These accomplishments include transforming Punjab into a power-surplus state, connecting major urban centers with four-lane highways, establishing new thermal power plants and airports, and comprehensively overhauling rural infrastructure.
Cheema contrasted this record with what he described as the failure of both the preceding Congress administration and the current Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to create any significant new infrastructure projects. "The state has suffered immensely due to this infrastructure deficit," Cheema asserted, adding "We are committed to restarting a new era of development and infrastructure creation to take Punjab forward."
Multi-Pronged Political Strategy
The Shiromani Akali Dal plans to appeal directly to Punjabis to support their own regional political force while simultaneously launching a people's movement against what they characterize as anti-Punjab policies implemented by the AAP government. The party has made several key promises to voters:
- Restoring law and order across the state
- Ensuring lasting peace and communal harmony
- Attracting substantial investment to create employment opportunities for youth
Organizational Restructuring and Expansion
The meeting established February 10 as the deadline for completing the party's entire organizational structure. This comprehensive restructuring includes:
- Formation of booth-level committees across all constituencies
- Constitution of all specialized party wings including Youth Akali Dal, Istri Akali Dal, Scheduled Caste wing, Backward Caste wing, and Trade wing
- Incorporating leaders who demonstrated effectiveness in recent block samiti and zila parishad elections into key organizational positions
Addressing Governance Concerns
The SAD leadership expressed strong objections to the state government's approach regarding pending Tubewell Corporation bills. Cheema criticized what he described as coercive tactics forcing panchayats to utilize central development funds—allocated specifically for roads, sanitation, drinking water, and street lighting—to settle water supply bills instead.
"We support all panchayats resisting these illegal orders," Cheema declared, emphasizing the improper diversion of development funds.
Criticism of Health Insurance Scheme
The Akali Dal leader further accused the AAP government of misleading Punjabis through its implementation of the Sehat Bima Yojana. Cheema characterized the scheme as a publicity gimmick, alleging that the government lacks sufficient funds for proper implementation while using the initiative primarily to collect voter data for upcoming electoral campaigns.
This comprehensive political mobilization by the Shiromani Akali Dal represents a significant escalation in Punjab's political landscape as parties begin positioning themselves for the crucial 2027 assembly elections. The planned rallies and organizational restructuring indicate SAD's determination to reclaim its traditional political stronghold through direct voter engagement and sharp criticism of incumbent governance.
