The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has demonstrated a significant political resurgence in the rural heartland of Punjab's southern Malwa region, according to recent results from the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections. The party's performance, marked by decisive victories in key districts, indicates a potential revival of its traditional rural base.
Decisive Wins in Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis
The most striking performance came in the Bathinda district, represented in the Lok Sabha by the party's sole MP, Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Here, the Akali Dal won a commanding 13 out of 17 zones in the zila parishad. Furthermore, the party secured control of the Bathinda, Goniana, Nathana, and Sangat panchayat samitis within the district, winning 79 out of 137 zones in the Bathinda panchayat samiti.
In neighbouring Muktsar, the party emerged as the single largest force, winning 7 out of 13 zila parishad zones and taking control of the Muktsar and Lambi panchayat samitis. Overall, the party won 48 out of 95 zones in the Muktsar district's panchayat samiti.
The trend extended to other districts. In Faridkot, Akali Dal secured 5 out of 10 zila parishad zones and 25 out of 65 panchayat samiti zones. In Mansa, the party won 4 out of 11 zila parishad zones and came close to a majority in the panchayat samiti, winning 12 out of 25 zones and 33 out of 86 zones district-wide.
Symbolic Victories and Key Setbacks
The results delivered several symbolic blows to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). In a notable reversal, AAP candidates lost in both the Adhnia panchayat samiti zone and the Lambi zila parishad zone. These areas include Khudian Gulab Singh, the native village of Punjab's Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, who had famously defeated veteran Akali leader Parkash Singh Badal in the 2022 Lambi assembly election.
Similarly, in Sandhwan, the native village of Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, AAP candidates lost in both the panchayat samiti and zila parishad zones, with victories going to Akali Dal and Congress candidates respectively.
However, the Akali Dal still faces challenges in certain pockets. In the Gidderbaha assembly constituency, the party finished a distant third, winning only 3 zones in the panchayat samiti compared to AAP's 14 and Congress's 8. In response, Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has announced plans to contest the next assembly election from Gidderbaha himself.
A Sign of Rural Revival Amidst Limited State Presence
This strong showing in local body polls is crucial for the Akali Dal, which currently has minimal representation in the Punjab state assembly. The wins have bolstered the party's standing in the rural governance structure. The party now controls two out of 22 zila parishads (excluding Mohali where polls were not held) and six out of 153 panchayat samitis across Punjab.
The results from southern Malwa, a region historically significant for the party, suggest a reconsolidation of its core voter base. This performance is being viewed as a potential springboard for the party's rebuilding efforts ahead of future state-wide elections, signalling that the political landscape in Punjab's rural areas remains dynamic and competitive.
