Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Baba Bakala Reveals Punjab’s Five-Party 2027 Election Test
Five important political groups held separate rallies at Baba Bakala before Punjab’s 2027 election.
Congress had many leaders present, but some important leaders were absent, showing disagreements inside the party.
The Bharatiya Janata Party wanted people to see it as an independent party, not just an ally of the Akalis.
The Aam Aadmi Party talked about work it says it has done, such as free electricity, jobs and health services.
Voters will judge whether that work is enough for another term.
The Shiromani Akali Dal attacked both the government and another Akali group called Waris Punjab De.
Waris Punjab De focused on the drug problem but still needs a strong organisation across Punjab.
No party showed a clear winning wave, so local candidates, alliances and small changes in support could be important.
All five major political formations held separate Rakhar Punia conferences at Baba Bakala on the same day.
Congress displayed prominent leaders but exposed continuing differences over who directs the party in Punjab.
The Bharatiya Janata Party presented itself as an independent contender beyond its former alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal.
The Aam Aadmi Party defended its government record while facing questions about unemployment, drugs, crime, migration and economic opportunity.
The Shiromani Akali Dal and Akali Dal Waris Punjab De are competing for influence in Punjab’s Panthic political space, with neither yet resolving its organisational challenge.
- Who
- The Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiromani Akali Dal and Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, along with their Punjab leaders.
- What
- The five political formations held separate rallies that revealed their strengths, internal disputes and challenges before the 2027 Punjab Assembly election.
- When
- At the Rakhar Punia conferences, less than a year before the 2027 assembly election.
- Where
- Baba Bakala, Punjab.
- Why
- The parties used the rallies to present their records, attack rivals and build support ahead of the election.
Political strengths and claims
Challenges and criticisms
Congress leadership
Political strengths and claims
Congress leaders including Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Rana Gurjeet Singh presented themselves as representing the party’s authentic Punjab leadership.
Challenges and criticisms
The absence of Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and some leaders associated with him suggested unresolved factional rivalry and a lack of settled command.
Aam Aadmi Party record
Political strengths and claims
Bhagwant Mann highlighted government delivery, including free electricity, jobs, health services, irrigation, infrastructure and welfare assistance for women.
Challenges and criticisms
As the incumbent government, Aam Aadmi Party will be judged on issues such as unemployment, drugs, crime, migration and economic opportunity, as well as on whether its services have been broad and credible.
Akali political space
Political strengths and claims
The Shiromani Akali Dal used sharper attacks to energise its cadre, while Akali Dal Waris Punjab De drew attention by making the drug crisis central to its campaign.
Challenges and criticisms
The Shiromani Akali Dal must rebuild trust after electoral setbacks, while Waris Punjab De must develop candidates, booth workers, local leadership and statewide organisation rather than relying only on issue-based or social-media momentum.
- Election
- Punjab Assembly election scheduled for 2027.
- Rallies
- All five major political formations organised separate stages at Baba Bakala on the same day.
- Congress issue
- The rally highlighted leadership tensions, including the absence of Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and leaders seen as close to him.
- Bharatiya Janata Party focus
- The party organised a full-scale conference led by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
- Aam Aadmi Party claims
- Bhagwant Mann highlighted free electricity, jobs, health services, irrigation, infrastructure and welfare measures.
- Shiromani Akali Dal challenge
- The party is competing against the Aam Aadmi Party, an expanding Bharatiya Janata Party and Akali Dal Waris Punjab De.
- Waris Punjab De agenda
- The party placed the drug crisis at the centre of its rally and proposed a white paper covering 1997 to 2027.