NEW DELHI: Buzz is growing that assembly polls in Punjab may be brought forward to November 2026 from February 2027, as scheduled. Keeping this in mind, the Congress party is learnt to have started its preparations, while the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already kickstarted its campaign.
Congress Prepares for Possible Early Polls
Congress sources said the Punjab unit has held discussions on November polls, while the All India Congress Committee (AICC) is also aware of it. The primary reason for the polls being advanced is said to be the Kumbh Mela starting on January 14 in Uttarakhand and the second phase of the national census kicking off around the same time. Fear of the two events impacting the poll timing has forced the party to move ahead with a curtailed timeframe for preparations, lest it be caught wanting in its efforts. The AICC's decision to constitute a committee under Ajay Maken late Thursday night for a report on the Punjab Congress unit is said to be dictated by urgency for quick changes in the state organisation as needed.
AAP and BJP Also Active
AAP is preparing for a scenario of November polls, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also active on the Punjab front. Further, there is speculation within Congress whether Uttarakhand polls will also be brought forward. Both states are scheduled to go to the polls along with Uttar Pradesh in February-March 2027. Given the all-round activity, Punjab is set to become the next big battleground in the national political calendar, with a strong three-cornered contest in the offing.
Political Stakes High for All Parties
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is keen to retain Punjab after the party's ouster from its other stronghold, Delhi, while Congress is desperate to win back the state to add to the perception of its political recovery after the victory in Kerala. Congress is especially keen to defeat AAP to simplify political equations in public perception as well as the opposition's collective calculations, as many INDIA bloc partners have sympathies with Kejriwal. As for BJP, it is making a serious charge to spread its wings in a state where it is at best a marginal force.
