The countdown to Punjab's next assembly election has set off a wave of political activity, with less than a year now left before voters head to the polls. All three of the state's heavyweight parties — the BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress — have stepped up their groundwork at virtually the same time, and a single day of developments has made it clear that the coming contest will be a sharp, three-cornered fight.
BJP Maps Its Strategy at Headquarters
The Bharatiya Janata Party convened a detailed meeting of its office-bearers at the party headquarters, with Punjab squarely at the centre of the discussion. Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president Nitin Navin both took part in the deliberations, which focused on shaping the on-ground plan for the upcoming election.
The urgency is not accidental — fresh off its win in Bengal, the party has now set its sights on capturing Punjab, and its top leadership has begun working out the electoral roadmap well in advance.
Who Attended the Meeting
According to the information available, the gathering brought together several senior figures, including Punjab BJP chief Sardar Keval Dhillon, Sunil Jakhar, organisation minister Srinivasalu, Ashwini Sharma and Iqbal Singh Lalpura. The leaders went over the various aspects of poll preparation and strategy in detail.
Kejriwal's Show of Strength in Bathinda
On the other side, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party is equally determined to retain power. Party convener Arvind Kejriwal has started drawing up the blueprint for a return to office, and on Friday he led a road show in Bathinda. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Manish Sisodia and state president Aman Arora were all by his side during the event.
Kejriwal made it clear that the party will once again go into the polls projecting Bhagwant Mann as its chief ministerial face, saying the goal is to make Mann the chief minister for a second time.
'Polls in Just Four Months'
During the road show, Kejriwal made a notable claim about the likely timing of the election. "I have been told that the elections will be held in November 2026 instead of February 2027. That leaves only four months now. We must get down to work right away and make Bhagwant Mann the chief minister again," he said.
He also thanked the public for backing the party's candidates in the recent civic polls. Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party had won 958 out of a total of 1,977 ward seats across 8 municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils and 19 nagar panchayats in Punjab's local body elections.
Congress Bets on Kharge and Rahul Gandhi
The Congress is not far behind in this race. State Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring announced that the party will contest the 2027 assembly election under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Asked who would spearhead the campaign in Punjab, he reiterated that the party would go into battle under Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, adding that there was "no doubt" about it. Warring also said that he is a party worker and will continue to work as one.
