SAD eyes Tarn Taran bypoll win, Badal calls for ‘Panthic’ unity

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday held booth-level meetings across various villages of the Tarn Taran Vidhan Sabha constituency, canvassing for party candidate Principal Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa.

The by-election for the constituency has been scheduled following the demise of sitting MLA Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal.

Sukhbir Badal addressed gatherings in the villages of Maluwal Santan, Chhichhrewal, Ramrauni and Chabal. In his address, Badal strongly criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for allegedly failing to utilise the Rs 10,000 crore Disaster Relief Fund to reinforce bandhs (embankments), carry out relief operations and provide interim compensation to lakhs of flood-affected farmers across the state.

He accused the Chief Minister of indulging in a publicity stunt by abandoning the state helicopter in Pathankot and claiming that it would now be used to hear public grievances. “We don’t need a helicopter,” said Badal. “What we need are tractors, JCBs, diesel and sandbags to strengthen bandhs and protect our feilds.”

He further alleged that the AAP government has failed to compensate farmers for repeated crop failures and natural disasters for over three-and-a-half years.

Calling for support for SAD’s candidate, Badal urged the electorate to elect ‘Panth Da Parivar’ in the upcoming bypoll. He praised Principal Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa for her contributions in the fields of education and social service, highlighting her roots in a ‘Dharmi Fauji’ family, with her husband having resigned from the Indian Army in protest after Operation Bluestar.

In a sharp attack on her opponent, Harmeet Singh Sandhu, Badal referred to him as a ‘Panth da Gaddaar’, accusing him of betraying his parent party in exchange for police escort and gunmen.

Badal claimed that a victory in Tarn Taran would trigger a political wave in favour of SAD, leading to the ousting of the AAP in the 2027 elections.

Principal Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, while addressing the gathering, urged the people to unitedly take on both AAP and Congress, and rally behind the Shiromani Akali Dal for the betterment of the constituency and Punjab.

Other senior leaders present at the event included Gulzar Singh Ranike, Iqbal Singh Sandhu and Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke.