Akali Dal Regains Ground in Punjab as Rebel Leaders Return Before 2027 Polls

Prem Singh Chandumajra and former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur are rejoining the Shiromani Akali Dal, providing a major political boost to the Sukhbir Badal-led party ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Chandumajra and his son, former MLA Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra, returned to the party on November 6, while Jagir Kaur is scheduled to come back on November 13.

The Rebel Defections

Both leaders previously associated with the breakaway faction SAD (Punar Surjit) have pulled out, raising fresh doubts about the survival of the splinter group formed in August 2025 under Giani Harpreet Singh. That outfit has faced a steady wave of exits since January 2026, with leaders switching sides to the SAD, BJP, AAP, or Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De). Figures like Charanjit Singh Brar and Sukhwant Singh Sarao joined the BJP, Surjit Singh Rakhra shifted to the AAP, and others like Manpreet Singh Ayali and Iqbal Singh Jhunda moved to the Waris Punjab De. Giani Harpreet Singh dismissed the departures as driven by self-interest, while Parminder Singh Dhindsa maintained that the group's local structures across Punjab remain intact.

Internal Troubles Elsewhere

The Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), founded in January 2025 by Tarsem Singh, is also battling internal friction. The party dissolved its district bodies across all 23 districts of Punjab on October 28 and suspended five drafting committee members two days later over alleged anti-party activities. Despite these fractures, the SAD continues organizing outreach programs targeting traders, women, farmers, and Gen Z while weighing potential alliances.

Context

These shifts reflect how regional political groups in Punjab frequently experience a cycle of splits and reunions as leaders jockey for influence ahead of major elections. The 117-member Punjab Assembly remains a key battleground where rural seats and religious outreach play a defining role in shaping electoral outcomes.