Sukhbir, son hit the ground ahead of rural bodies' polls

Ahead of the zila parishad and block samiti polls, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and his son Anantveer Singh Badal hit the ground in Gidderbaha and Lambi Assembly constituencies, respectively.

This comes three days after Sukhbir declared that he would contest the 2027 Assembly election from Gidderbaha, a former SAD bastion. He had also hinted at his son joining politics soon. Both campaigned for the December 14 rural polls.

Sukhbir campaigned at seven Gidderbaha villages. “Don’t take the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections lightly. I will continue to serve you throughout my life. No harm will ever come to you,” he told people.

Sukhbir also reminded people of the long association his father had with the constituency, which was represented by him five times. “You gave so much love to Badal Sahib and he always respected you. We don’t have any group except the Badal group,” he said. As Sukhbir addressed gatherings, Anantveer moved quietly in the Lambi Assembly constituency.

Having graduated in economics, he moved in a small cavalcade, meeting youngsters, touched feet of elders and posed for photographs.

At Panjawa village, some women said they expected the junior Badal to speak.

“We thought he would talk about some issues, like Badal Sahib used to. He didn’t speak, but he seems well-mannered and simple. We will be happy if the Akali Dal gives him a chance,” said a woman.

The Lambi seat too was represented by the late Parkash Singh Badal for five straight terms, before losing in 2022 to AAP’s Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, now a cabinet minister.