In a high-stakes move to navigate the turbulent political waters, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has called for a core committee meeting on Thursday. To be chaired by the party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, the pivotal gathering will delve into the party’s recent electoral debacle, where it managed to secure only a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections. With eyes on revamping strategies and addressing the pressing political landscape of Punjab and the nation, the meeting promises to set the stage for the party’s future endeavours in a rapidly shifting political arena.
In the recently-concluded general elections, Akali Dal managed to retain only the Bathinda seat while facing significant losses across the remaining 12 constituencies, in its worst-ever performance — prompting the party leadership to strategize and realign their approach for future political battles, including the upcoming by-elections in Punjab.
The election marked a particularly challenging period for SAD as it contested independently for the first time since the demise of former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal. Under the leadership of Sukhbir Badal, the party made concerted efforts to bring together veteran members and rejuvenate the organization. Despite these efforts, internal disagreements over ticket allocation, particularly with the influential Dhindsa family, posed substantial hurdles.
In a bid to rally support, Sukhbir Badal and his team emphasized the panthic agenda, revisiting pivotal issues such as Operation Bluestar and the anti-Sikh riots to resonate with the Sikh voters. The state-wide ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’ was another key initiative aimed at invigorating the party cadre ahead of the polls. Despite these initiatives, the party faced fierce competition across all constituencies and struggled to maintain its stronghold in key areas such as Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Patiala, and Khadoor Sahib.
The recent elections saw a drastic decline in SAD's vote share, dropping from 27.76 percent in the 2019 elections to 18.38 percent in the 2022 state polls, and further plummeting to 13.42 percent in the 2024 election. This decline, which is lower than its old ally, the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), underscored the need for the party to reassess its strategies and address internal challenges.
Additional topics likely to be discussed in the Core Committee meeting include the formulation of new strategies to regain political ground, potential alliances, and the mobilization of grassroots support. The meeting will also focus on planning for the upcoming by-elections to Jalandhar West, and four other constituencies, in Punjab, where the party aims to restore its influence and address the grievances of its voter base.
Senior party leaders, district presidents, and key functionaries are expected to attend the meeting, reflecting its significance in shaping the party's future course of action. The outcomes of this meeting are anticipated to be pivotal in determining SAD’s strategies and political maneuvers in the coming months.
