In the last five years, the largest loss in history was recorded in the stock market in October 2024 to the tune of 37 lakh crore as per media reports. Before this, in March 2020, small investors lost around 33 lakh crore during the Corona period.
Sukhbir Singh Badal has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 12 years in office while once again refusing to directly rule in or rule out a future alliance with the BJP. At the same time, NDA leaders have publicly praised the legacy of Late Parkash Singh Badal, adding fresh fuel to political speculation in Punjab. This raises an intriguing question if both the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal insist they are focused on strengthening their own organisations, why does the alliance conversation continue to return to the centre of Punjab politics ? Is this simply political courtesy between former allies, or a sign that both parties are carefully keeping their options open ahead of 2027 ? And as rumours continue to grow, is the real challenge now managing expectations, or explaining why the door to a reunion never seems fully closed ?
सुखबीर सिंह बादल ने प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी के 12 वर्ष पूरे होने पर उन्हें बधाई दी है, लेकिन साथ ही एक बार फिर भाजपा के साथ संभावित गठबंधन को लेकर न तो स्पष्ट हाँ कही और न ही साफ़ इनकार किया। दूसरी ओर, एन.डी.ए. नेताओं द्वारा स्व. प्रकाश सिंह बादल की विरासत की खुलकर सराहना किए जाने से पंजाब में राजनीतिक अटकलों को नया बल मिला है। ऐसे में एक दिलचस्प सवाल उठता है यदि भाजपा और शिरोमणि अकाली दल दोनों ही यह दावा कर रहे हैं कि उनका पूरा ध्यान अपनी-अपनी संगठनात्मक मजबूती पर है, तो फिर गठबंधन की चर्चा बार-बार पंजाब की राजनीति के केंद्र में क्यों लौट आती है ? क्या यह केवल पुराने सहयोगियों के बीच राजनीतिक शिष्टाचार है, या फिर 2027 को ध्यान में रखते हुए दोनों दल अपने विकल्प खुले रखना चाहते हैं ? और जैसे-जैसे अटकलें बढ़ रही हैं, क्या असली चुनौती उम्मीदों को नियंत्रित करना है, या यह समझाना कि दोनों के बीच दोबारा साथ आने का दरवाज़ा आखिर पूरी तरह बंद क्यों नहीं दिखता ?
Punjab's Panthic political space is now more fragmented than at any point in recent memory. The Shiromani Akali Dal is trying to stage a comeback, “Waris Punjab De” is energising sections of Sikh youth, Punar Surjit continues to hold its ideological ground, and multiple rebel Akali factions are fighting for relevance. But this growing division raises a brutal political question if every Panthic group claims to be the true voice of Punjab, why does the Panthic vote keep getting weaker with every election ? Has the battle to replace the Akali Dal become so intense that it is helping AAP, Congress and BJP more than any Panthic force itself ? And as 2027 approaches, will Punjab witness the revival of Panthic politics, or the election where its endless fragmentation finally turns it into a permanent minority in its own political space ?
