Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Sukhbir Badal Uses Youth Outreach, Tech and ‘Cool Dad’ Image
Sukhbir Singh Badal met young people in Patiala as part of a new SAD programme called ‘Vibe Punjab Di’.
He answered questions about politics, farming, technology and his family.
He said farmers should use new methods instead of relying mainly on wheat and rice.
He described growing fruits and vegetables without soil in special bags.
He promised an 80% subsidy for farmers who use technology if his party wins power.
Students also asked about his favourite food, and he said he likes pizza, pasta, maa di dal and Diet Coke.
Badal called himself a “cool parent” while talking about his daughters.
He criticised the current Punjab government and said people should choose a leader who can develop the state.
SAD also announced several campaigns ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal launched the ‘Vibe Punjab Di’ youth outreach programme at Khalsa College in Patiala.
Badal discussed technology-driven farming, including his experiments with soilless cultivation, and promised an 80% subsidy if SAD returned to power.
He attributed Punjab’s rising debt-to-GDP ratio to spending on what he called “bad debt” and contrasted his party’s record with later governments.
The interaction mixed political questions with personal topics, including Badal’s vegetarian food preferences, family life and relationship with his late father Parkash Singh Badal.
SAD announced a statewide door-to-door campaign from October 6, a bus yatra from November 10 and other election-related programmes.
- Who
- Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Shiromani Akali Dal president, students, and SAD leaders.
- What
- Badal held a youth interaction and promoted the ‘Vibe Punjab Di’ programme while SAD announced its forthcoming election campaign plans.
- When
- The interaction and announcements took place on Thursday; the door-to-door campaign is scheduled to begin October 6, with other programmes beginning October 5 and November 10.
- Where
- The youth interaction was held at Khalsa College in Patiala, while the wider campaigns will take place across Punjab.
- Why
- The programme was intended to connect with young people, gather suggestions for SAD’s election manifesto and prepare for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Sukhbir Badal and SAD’s Position
Alternative Political Perspective
Punjab’s debt
Sukhbir Badal and SAD’s Position
Badal distinguished between development-related “good” debt and “bad” debt used for day-to-day expenses, saying an SAD government would avoid the latter.
Alternative Political Perspective
The article gives no response from the Punjab government or other parties to Badal’s debt claims, including his figures for the debt-to-GDP ratio.
State leadership
Sukhbir Badal and SAD’s Position
Badal described himself as a development-focused leader and said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had pushed Punjab backwards.
Alternative Political Perspective
Badal also criticised former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for rarely interacting with people, but the article does not include responses from either leader.
Jobs and agriculture
Sukhbir Badal and SAD’s Position
SAD said government jobs would be given only to Punjabis, 75% of industrial jobs would go to Punjabis, and technology-based farming would receive an 80% subsidy under an SAD government.
Alternative Political Perspective
The article does not report reactions from the Punjab government, farmers’ groups, industry or other political parties to these proposals.
- Programme
- ‘Vibe Punjab Di’ youth outreach programme
- Location
- Khalsa College, Patiala
- Farming proposal
- An 80% subsidy for farmers adopting technology-oriented farming if SAD returns to power
- Debt claim
- Badal said Punjab’s debt-to-GDP ratio fell from 46% in 2007 to 32% in 2017 and later rose to 49%
- Door-to-door campaign
- Scheduled across all Assembly constituencies from October 6, beginning in Attari, Amritsar
- Statewide bus yatra
- Scheduled to begin November 10 from Talwandi Sabo
- Additional event
- A public rally is planned for December 8 at Killi Chahlan village in Moga