In a dramatic escalation of political tension in Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal has launched a fierce counterattack against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition Congress, accusing them of orchestrating a long-standing political conspiracy to malign the Akali Dal leadership, including his brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia. His sharp remarks come at a time when the political future of the SAD hangs in delicate balance, with back-to-back electoral defeats and growing internal dissent threatening to erode its base further ahead of the 2027 Vidhan Sabha elections.
Addressing the media, Sukhbir Badal alleged that both the Congress-led previous governments and now the AAP regime have systematically targeted the Akali Dal and the Badal family by misusing state institutions. He pointed out that despite multiple rounds of investigation—including five Special Investigation Teams (SITs) and a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)—no concrete evidence linking Majithia to the drug trade had been found. He emphasized that even the Supreme Court dismissed the petition seeking cancellation of Majithia’s bail, underscoring the lack of evidence, absence of any money trail, and the political nature of the accusations.
Badal further alleged that the Punjab government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, was acting out of political vendetta. He said that the FIR filed recently was based merely on an affidavit already submitted to the Supreme Court, with no fresh evidence or findings. According to him, the state DGP was pressured to reinitiate action against Majithia despite the Apex Court’s relief order. He accused both Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal of targeting Majithia simply because he had been vocal against their governance failures.
For the Akali Dal, these developments arrive at a perilous moment. The party has lost two consecutive Vidhan Sabha elections, in 2017 and 2022, largely owing to widespread criticism over its handling of drug-related issues during its own tenure. If it fails to decisively clear Majithia’s name or present a compelling case of political persecution backed by legal and moral clarity, it risks further alienation from the electorate, particularly the youth and urban Sikh voters who once formed the bedrock of its support base.
Moreover, internal rifts within the SAD have already begun to surface. Several senior leaders have exited the party in recent years, with some joining rival political formations, adding to the sense of drift. The leadership vacuum created by the absence of Parkash Singh Badal and the controversies surrounding Majithia have only deepened the crisis. In this backdrop, Sukhbir Badal’s combative stance seems not only an effort to shield his family but also a desperate attempt to restore the party’s narrative control ahead of what could be its most defining electoral battle in 2027.
If the SAD leadership fails to take proactive and transparent steps to reclaim its credibility on issues like drug trafficking allegations and political ethics, it could face further erosion of support. Public perception around Majithia’s legal troubles—regardless of court rulings—continues to linger in Punjab’s collective memory, and any perception of victimhood will need to be backed by consistent legal vindication and effective political messaging.
As the state’s political landscape becomes increasingly competitive with AAP attempting to consolidate its governance mandate and the Congress eyeing a resurgence, the Akali Dal can ill-afford another misstep. It needs to project unity, purpose, and moral authority if it hopes to return as a serious contender in 2027. Sukhbir Badal’s latest salvo may have momentarily shifted the spotlight, but unless followed by strategic recalibration within the party and honest introspection, it may not be enough to reverse the tide.
#SukhbirBadal #BikramMajithia #PunjabPolitics #AkaliDalCrisis #2027Elections #DrugPolitics
This is an auto web-generated news web story.
