Can Sukhbir Badal rebuild SAD's 'declining fortunes' in Punjab?

Soon after Sukhbir Singh Badal was re-elected as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday, his supporters launched an aggressive campaign on social media branding him as a “vikas purush” (development man).

The online drive is being seen as an attempt to rebuild Sukhbir’s image amid the party’s declining political fortunes.

The campaign also introduced a new slogan – “Punjab di pukar, Sukhbir di sarkar” – positioning him as the answer to Punjab’s governance challenges. While the SAD once held significant sway over Punjab politics, its current legislative strength is limited to just two MLAs.

Interestingly, both sitting MLAs reflect different camps within the party.

One is Ganieve Kaur, the wife of former minister Bikram Singh Majithia, seen as a loyalist of the Badal camp. The other is Manpreet Singh Ayali, who has been consistently calling for leadership change in the party.

As the SAD attempts a revival, Sukhbir’s re-election and the branding push indicate a renewed effort to reclaim lost ground in Punjab’s political landscape.

However, internal dissent remains a challenge for the party’s leadership.