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Akali Dal Launches Mass Contact Drive with 40 Rallies for Punjab Polls

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will launch a mass contact programme starting February 17 from Qadian in Gurdaspur district. Party President Sukhbir Singh Badal announced the campaign, which will feature 40 rallies named 'Punjab Bachao' across the state, culminating on Baisakhi, April 13. Senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema stated the rallies will address key issues like transferring Chandigarh to Punjab, river water disputes, the agricultural crisis, and alleged failures of the AAP government. The party aims to present its vision for the state and rally public support ahead of the Assembly polls slated for early next year.

Key Points: Akali Dal Mass Contact Programme for Punjab Assembly Polls

  • 40 rallies in mass contact drive
  • Focus on Chandigarh, river waters, farmers
  • Critique of AAP government's performance
  • Campaign to culminate on Baisakhi
3 min read

Akali Dal to launch mass contact programme from Feb 17

SAD to launch 40-rally 'Punjab Bachao' campaign from Feb 17, focusing on state issues, farmers, and criticizing AAP government.

"We will take up all the burning issues of Punjab and offer our vision for the state. - Sukhbir Singh Badal"

Chandigarh, Feb 12

The Shiromani Akali Dal on Thursday announced to start a mass contact programme from February 17 in Qadian town in Gurdaspur district to launch the first phase of an election campaign comprising 40 rallies in nearly one month for the Assembly polls slated early next year.

A decision to this effect was taken by party President Sukhbir Singh Badal after consultation with the senior party leadership.

Speaking on the issue, Badal said, "We will take up all the burning issues of Punjab and offer our vision for the state. I'm confident Punjabis will rally around SAD which alone is capable of fulfilling their aspirations."

Senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema said this would include holding 40 rallies, named 'Punjab Bachao -- Sukhbir Singh Badal Liyao', across the state and would culminate on Baisakhi on April 13.

He said 28 rallies would be held till March 31, whose schedule had also been finalised.

"The remaining 12 rallies will be held in April," he added.

Cheema said the party has always practiced ethical politics.

"We have always stood by what we have promised in the past. This time also we will offer our vision for the state which will cover every section of society, besides focusing on maintaining peace and communal harmony," Cheema said.

The Akali Dal leader said the party would spell out its stand on vital issues and display its commitment to ensure they were resolved.

"These include transferring Punjab's capital Chandigarh to the state and an end to the discrimination done to Punjab as far as its river waters are concerned," he said.

"The erosion of federalism has harmed Punjab financially also as it involves devolution of Central funds and the freedom of the states to spend them as per their priorities," Cheema said.

Cheema said the crisis in agriculture and the grave issues faced by farmers, including indebtedness and suicides as well as the suffering caused to them by not getting compensation for losses suffered by the 2025 floods, would be taken up in the rallies.

He said the issue of making the minimum support price (MSP) a legal guarantee, reduction of fertiliser subsidies and the need to protect farmer interests in the trade deal with the US would be taken up during the mass contact programme.

"The need for specialised programmes to ensure the welfare of the Scheduled Caste, increasing employment opportunities for the youth and exposing the corruption, failure to maintain law and order and shelter being provided to the drug mafia by the Aam Aadmi Party government would also be taken up forcefully," he added.'

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Another round of promises before elections. We've heard the 'Punjab Bachao' slogan before. What matters is delivery. The last time they were in power, the drug problem was rampant. Actions speak louder than rallies.
R
Rohit P
Focusing on farmer issues and MSP is the need of the hour. The floods last year devastated many families in our area who are still waiting for compensation. If any party can genuinely take this up, they will get support.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the political strategy starting so early. The federalism and central funds argument is a strong one that resonates beyond Punjab too. A healthy opposition is good for democracy.
K
Karthik V
As someone from outside Punjab, it's clear regional parties play a crucial role in highlighting state-specific issues. The water sharing dispute has been going on for decades. Hope for a constructive debate.
M
Meera T
The mention of programs for Scheduled Castes and youth employment is important. But we need concrete plans, not just rhetoric. Punjab's youth need jobs, not just political rallies. Let's see the actual manifesto.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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