Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has been a pivotal force in Sikh politics, particularly in Punjab. It emerged prominently in the 1946 provincial elections, winning 22 seats and forming a coalition government with the Indian National Congress under Unionist Khizar Hayat Khan Tiwana.
Central to the SAD's ideology are Punjabiyat, Punjabi nationalism, conservatism, and federalism. It champions Sikh rights and heritage while advocating for a moderate approach to regional autonomy and national integration. Recent agendas have focused on farmers' welfare, religious institutions, and preserving regional identity.
A significant development was the SAD's withdrawal from the National Democratic Alliance on 26 September 2020, in protest against the controversial farm bills.
A man named Jagga Singh allegedly consumed a poisonous substance outside the Deputy Commissioner's office in Punjab's Sangrur district, alleging administrative inaction against local drug peddling. The victim stated he faced threats and assault after posting videos highlighting the drug menace in his village, while the police allegedly ignored his complaints. The incident ignited sharp attacks from the Congress, BJP, and Shiromani Akali Dal against the Bhagwant Mann-led government, accusing it of failing to tackle the drug mafia and harassing whistleblowers. Meanwhile, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party dismissed the accusations, pointing out that the individual faced several FIRs, including cases under the NDPS Act.
A deepening power crisis in Punjab has severely impacted industries and agriculture, causing an estimated loss of 100 crore rupees to industrial units in the Mohali hub. Factory owners reported receiving only 12 hours of electricity instead of the required 24 hours, alongside frequent unscheduled cuts that severely disrupted manufacturing operations, supply timelines, and machine-dependent processes. The crisis has triggered a sharp political confrontation, with opposition parties including the BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Congress staging protests against the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government. In response to mounting pressure from industrialists and farmers, the Punjab government initiated administrative changes, transferring senior IAS officer Basant Garg and appointing IAS officer Gurkirat Kirpal Singh as the Chief Managing Director of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. State authorities have stated that regular supply measures are being restored.
A massive political confrontation has erupted in Punjab following the death of Gulzar Singh, who had questioned Finance Minister Harpal Cheema regarding the state's rampant drug crisis. Opposition parties, including the Congress, BJP, and Shiromani Akali Dal, have targeted the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government after allegations surfaced that Gulzar took Cheema's name in his dying declaration and that his body was forcibly cremated under heavy police presence. Rahul Gandhi and Congress leaders demanded Cheema's resignation and questioned his absence from the FIR. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes also stepped in to meet the victim's family. While AAP defended the government by asserting that prompt action was taken against named drug peddlers and claimed the accusations were part of a false narrative created by opposition parties, the BJP and Congress alleged widespread intimidation of citizens raising anti-drug concerns across Punjab ahead of the upcoming elections.
The death of Gulzar Singh in Punjab has triggered widespread political outrage after his family accused the state administration and police of carrying out a forced cremation without their consent. The deceased's wife and son released video statements alleging intimidation, absence of promised compensation or employment, and severe pressure from police forces drawn from multiple districts. They also demanded legal action against all individuals named by Gulzar Singh before his death, including Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Shiromani Akali Dal, have mounted attacks against the Bhagwant Mann-led government. Congress leaders submitted a memorandum to the Punjab Governor demanding the arrest of Harpal Singh Cheema and accusing authorities of evidence destruction. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and a Bharatiya Janata Party delegation also intervened, raising concerns over security and justice for the bereaved family.
A intense political confrontation has erupted in Punjab following the suicide of Gulzar Singh in Sangrur. In a video recorded prior to his death, Singh raised the issue of the drug menace and named Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. While the Punjab Police have arrested several individuals in connection with the case, Minister Cheema has not been named in the First Information Report. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party, have demanded an FIR against Cheema and targeted the Aam Aadmi Party government over its failure to tackle drug abuse. In response, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann hit out at the opposition, accusing them of playing politics over dead bodies and asserting that previous Akali Dal, BJP, and Congress regimes were responsible for the state's drug menace.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann targeted the Shiromani Akali Dal following the alliance between the Student Organisation of India (SOI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the Punjab University elections. Addressing a rally in Mohali, Chief Minister Mann stated that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has entered Punjab University through the student wing alliance and alleged that the Akali Dal is actively seeking a tie-up with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The political developments come amid speculation regarding potential alliances ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined regional priorities focusing on security, connectivity, and opportunity, demanding zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism. Following state-sponsored attacks, including the Pahalgam terror attack, India held the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and categorically rejected a ruling by the Court of Arbitration in The Hague regarding hydroelectric projects, citing lack of jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif faced scrutiny for sharing an edited SCO group photograph that cropped out Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, before re-uploading the original. Footage of Modi interacting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping gained international attention. On the ground in Ladakh, local authorities created two diversions at Stok Nala using JCB machines, redirecting approximately 90 million litres of glacier water daily into the Igoo-Phay Canal to irrigate over 1,000 acres across 12 villages. In domestic developments, ABVP candidate Ankit Bidhan secured victory in the Panjab University student union elections for the president's post.
In a major political development on campus, the student wings of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiromani Akali Dal have announced a last-minute alliance for the Panjab University elections. The Student Organisation of India, the student wing of the Akali Dal, is backing the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad candidate. The development has triggered speculation over a potential political realignment between the parent parties ahead of upcoming assembly elections. While BJP leaders publicly deny any tie-up with the Akali Dal, leaders like Bikram Majithia and Harsimrat Badal have previously indicated the need for an alliance. The student election is viewed as a significant precursor to state-level political equations.
In an exclusive interview with India Today's Kamaljeet Sandhu in Chandigarh, BJP Rajya Sabha MP and Lovely Professional University (LPU) Chancellor Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal addressed critical political and social issues facing Punjab. Discussing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus on combating the drug menace, Mittal announced that the BJP is planning multiple rallies across Punjab leading up to a mega rally attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Addressing relief efforts for Nepalese students at LPU following a major tragedy in Nepal, Mittal highlighted the university's matching fund initiative and supply assistance. He also urged the Punjab government to resolve ongoing grievances with state employees on strike. Clarifying political speculations, Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal firmly dismissed reports of an alliance between the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal, confirming that the party plans to contest all 117 assembly seats independently.
The Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiromani Akali Dal are in the final stages of re-establishing their alliance ahead of the Punjab assembly elections. Sources indicate the BJP will assume the big brother role, with Akali Dal instructing leaders to refrain from preparing for rural seats. BJP National General Secretary Organisation BL Santhosh urged party workers to prepare across all 117 seats during a Punjab visit, without ruling out an alliance. Recent developments follow meetings between SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. The potential tie-up comes six years after their political split, aiming to counter the governing Aam Aadmi Party and Congress in the state.
Speculation is rife regarding a potential realignment between Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the 2027 Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections. The two former alliance partners had previously parted ways during the farmers' protest after governing Punjab together from 2007 to 2017. Recent political developments, including high-level meetings in Delhi and public statements emphasizing past progress and development delivered from the national capital, have fueled discussion about a renewed partnership. Analysts suggest that recent interactions between key leadership figures indicate behind-the-scenes movement towards reuniting the former coalition partners for the upcoming state assembly polls in Punjab.
The Karnataka government is considering legislation requiring private and unregistered organisations to secure state permission before holding events in government schools and public spaces.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the election campaign in Punjab by criticising the Bhagwant Mann government over corruption, unutilised central funds, and a national capital riot conviction.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu addressed the controversy surrounding the movie Satluj and its portrayal of Punjab's history. He challenged the film's claim of 25,000 missing bodies, asking, "Where did the 25,000 number come from?"
The big talking point of this episode of To The Point is the controversy over the removal of actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh-starrer film Satluj from OTT platform ZEE5 just days after its digital release.
In this episode of To The Point, the top focus is on the controversy over Diljit Dosanjh's 'Satluj', which was removed from OTT two days after its release.
As the Ram Mandir donation probe intensifies, former General Secretary of the Ram Temple Trust, Champat Rai, has been questioned by the police in connection with the case.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has strongly condemned the opposition for circulating fabricated videos to target him. He added the person in the videos is not him, and it was an attempt to defame him.
In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav faces land grab allegations involving 137 plots in Ujjain, prompting Congress to demand a judicial probe and his resignation, while the BJP denies the claims.
The latest episode of Post Mortem examines the legal trajectories of two convicted godmen, Asaram Bapu and Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The Rajasthan High Court delivered a split verdict on Asaram, upholding his life imprisonment for rape under the IPC, sexual exploitation under the POCSO Act, and violations of the Juvenile Justice Act.
