Sukhbir Badal targets CM Mann over Punjab’s ‘collapsed’ administration; SAD Yatra now from Nov 15
SAD chief rules out alliance with Congress and AAP, says party open to tie-ups with parties accepting its ideology and policies
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, October 28, 2026: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of leaving the field amid growing public discontent, alleging that the state’s administrative machinery had collapsed.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting with the party’s constituency in-charges, Badal claimed the chief minister had realised that people would reject the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the 2027 Assembly elections.
Referring to the Daljit Singh case in Mansa, Badal alleged that police personnel had forcibly taken the deceased’s body from his family. He claimed the incident reflected a breakdown in administrative control and alleged that the police were acting without effective direction.
Badal asserted that Punjab’s people would support their own regional party and said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the state would not change their political preferences.
Responding to a question on possible political alliances, the SAD chief said his party was willing to consider an alliance with any party that accepted its ideology and policies. However, he ruled out an alliance with either the Congress or the AAP.
“Whenever any alliance proposal comes, we will consider it,” he said.
Punjab Yatra rescheduled to November 15
Meanwhile, senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema announced that the party’s Punjab Yatra, originally scheduled to begin on November 10, would now start on November 15.
Cheema said Sukhbir Singh Badal would lead the yatra and that the programme had been postponed due to the festive season and farmers’ engagement in mandis.
He also announced a special outreach programme under which Badal would meet traders and industrialists across 12 Assembly constituencies. The programme was scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 29, with meetings in Sangrur and Barnala.
SAD delegation to approach Punjab Human Rights Commission
Cheema further said a party delegation would approach the Punjab Human Rights Commission over the alleged forcible removal of Daljit Singh’s body from his family by police personnel in Mansa.
The delegation would seek action against the police personnel involved and raise allegations that members of the bereaved family were beaten during the incident. Cheema said other alleged instances of police high-handedness would also be brought before the commission.
The SAD meeting also passed condolences for the deaths of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) members Suba Singh Dabwali and Amarjit Singh Bhalaipur.