According to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the annual Consumer Price Index has increased by 5.5 percent in the month of September, which is the highest rate in a long time.
Amritpal Singh-led ‘Waris Punjab De’ is expanding its electoral footprint, with candidates announced in several constituencies and former SAD MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali joining the organisation. Its formal registration and election symbol were still pending, while the party has said Amritpal Singh will be its chief ministerial face. But here is the harder question: Can Amritpal Singh turn strong Panthic emotion and his personal appeal into a broad political movement for Punjab or does his politics risk remaining dependent on identity, symbolism and the anger of a particular section of voters ?
अमृतपाल सिंह के नेतृत्व वाला संगठन ‘वारिस पंजाब दे’ अपना चुनावी आधार बढ़ा रहा है। कई विधानसभा क्षेत्रों में उम्मीदवारों की घोषणा हो चुकी है और पूर्व शिरोमणि अकाली दल विधायक मनप्रीत सिंह अयाली भी संगठन में शामिल हो गए हैं। संगठन का औपचारिक पंजीकरण और चुनाव चिन्ह अभी लंबित है, जबकि पार्टी ने अमृतपाल सिंह को अपना मुख्यमंत्री पद का चेहरा बताया है। लेकिन बड़ा सवाल यह है: क्या अमृतपाल सिंह मजबूत पंथक भावना और अपनी व्यक्तिगत लोकप्रियता को पंजाब के लिए एक व्यापक राजनीतिक आंदोलन में बदल सकते हैं या उनकी राजनीति पहचान, प्रतीकवाद और एक खास वर्ग के गुस्से तक सीमित रहने का जोखिम रखती है ?
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) was formed in 2025 by leaders who broke away from the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal. Since then, some prominent leaders have moved to other political groups, including Waris Punjab De, the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party. That raises an important question: If leaders who left the Badal-led Akali Dal to challenge its leadership are now leaving Punar Surjit, how much political space can the faction build before 2027 ?
