As the by-elections for Punjab’s four vacant assembly seats are expected to be announced anytime, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has initiated an ambitious campaign to secure victories and reaffirm its political stronghold, amidst its worst-ever political turmoil. The party’s newly constituted Parliamentary Board, under the leadership of former MP Balwinder Singh Bhundar, has initiated a comprehensive strategy to select the most suitable candidates for the impending polls — a strategic move seen as an important step in SAD’s efforts to re-establish its influence in the state's evolving political landscape, especially when the party is divided in vertical.

While the Vidhan Sabha Speaker has declared the four assembly seats — Gidderbaha, Barnala, Dera Baba Nanak, and Chabbewal — vacant following the elected MLAs’ elevation to the Parliament, another segment – Banga – also fell vacant after the sitting SAD MLA Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi joined the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) about 10 days ago. The Speaker is yet to accept his resignation, following which the seat will be declared officially vacant.

Dr Sukhi’s decision to switch allegiances and join AAP dealt a significant blow to SAD, plunging the once-dominant political force into deeper crisis. With Dr Sukhi’s exit, SAD’s already dwindling presence in the Punjab Assembly has been further reduced, leaving the party with just two MLAs in the 117-member House.

His departure is particularly damaging as it leaves SAD without any representation in the Doaba region, where Dr Sukhi was the sole MLA holding the party's fort. In Majha region, SAD’s presence is also confined to a single seat, held by Ganieve Kaur Majithia — wife of former Minister Bikram Singh Majithia.

The situation in politically-significant Malwa region, which accounts for lion’s share of 69 assembly seats, is equally grim. SAD’s lone MLA here, Manpreet Singh Ayali, has been noticeably distant from the party’s core activities, raising concerns about his continued alignment with the party’s objectives.

Amidst all this, SAD is initiating the campaign commencing from August 24 — involving intensive tour of the four assembly constituencies where by-elections are scheduled — aimed at consolidating its position.

SAD is in no mood to take the tour as just a routine exercise but a vital opportunity for the party to connect with its grassroots workers and gauge the pulse of the electorate. This approach is designed to ensure that the candidates chosen are not only popular among the masses but also in sync with the aspirations of the local party workers and leaders.

The first leg of the tour will begin in Chabbewal (Hoshiarpur) on August 24, where the party’s Parliamentary Board engaged with party workers in a joint meeting, followed by one-on-one discussions with local leaders. The crucial exercise was aimed at gathering feedback and understand the ground realities from those directly involved in the political process at the local level.

Following the Chabbewal visit, the Parliamentary Board is set to continue its tour with stops in Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur) on August 27; and Barnala on August 28. Each of these visits will follow a similar pattern, with joint meetings and personalized discussions aimed at ensuring that every voice within the party is heard. The process underscored SAD's dedication to democratic principles within its ranks, ensuring that the final candidates are a product of collective decision-making rather than top-down imposition.

The Board, comprising experienced members such as Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Hira Singh Gabaria, and Daljit Singh Cheema, add a wealth of political acumen and understanding of the state’s diverse electorate to the table. Their involvement in this rigorous selection process added credibility to the entire exercise and reassured party workers of a fair and transparent approach.

Even though party president Sukhbir Singh Badal has been holding a series of meetings in Gidderbaha constituency amidst speculations that he might choose to contest from the seat, the dates for the Board’s visit are yet to be finalized.