Show of strength by political parties at Baba Bakala today

All major parties in Punjab have made preparations to hold political rallies during the annual Rakhar Punia fair at Baba Bakala on Saturday, amid sparring over the contentious land pooling policy that has also drawn the ire of state farmers.

The political events, being dubbed as “show of strength” by political experts, come ahead of the Assembly bypoll in Tarn Taran, a constituency about 40 kilometres from Baba Bakala. The election panel is yet to declare the schedule of the bypoll.

According to ruling AAP leaders, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, along with his several Cabinet colleagues, will address a state-level rally.

Baba Bakala legislator Dalbir Singh Tong visited the venue on Friday and reviewed arrangements. He even held a meeting with government officials.

Sukhbir Singh Badal too is set to address his biggest political rally this year, in an apparent bid to arrest the party’s declining fortunes, especially after he was handed out a religious punishment by the Sikh clergy last year.

He, along with other party colleagues, was held guilty of “religious misconduct” over issues concerning the Sikhs during the party’s rule from 2007-17. The SAD rally is being held ahead of a scheduled meeting of an Akal Takht-formed panel to elect a new president of the SAD. The panel includes rebel Akali leaders, who have been demanding a leadership change in the party.

The party had earlier rejected the committee and had re-elected Sukhbir its chief in organisation polls.

The state’s main Opposition Congress will hold its rally amid reports of growing rift in the party, with its top brass trying to bridge the differences ahead of the crucial 2027 Assembly poll.

The rally is being held in the aftermath of the Ludhiana (West) Assembly bypoll loss for the party.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said all prominent state leaders would be present at the rally on one stage. He said party workers would mobilise people from Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and besides Amritsar for the rally.

SAD (Amritsar) Simranjit Singh Mann said his party, along with the Dal Khalsa, will hold a rally on the occasion.

A stage will also be set up by jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh's Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), where his party leaders will address their supporters.