Sohan Singh Thandal’s political journey feels like a full Punjab politics rollercoaster, old Akali loyalist, ministerial power, repeated election defeats, party switching, BJP experiment, and then finally returning back to Shiromani Akali Dal again. Supporters still see him as a seasoned and politically experienced leader with strong personal equations, but critics feel his constant shifting and repeated losses made his politics look more survival driven than direction driven. Even today, Thandal gives the vibe of a leader who refuses to politically retire, no matter how many setbacks come his way. Is Sohan Singh Thandal still a serious comeback player in Doaba politics, or has Punjab already started seeing him as one of those leaders who keep changing political buses but still miss the final destination ?
सोहन सिंह ठंडल का राजनीतिक सफर पंजाब की पूरी राजनीतिक रोलरकोस्टर जैसा लगता है, पुराने अकाली वफादार, मंत्री पद की ताकत, लगातार चुनावी हार, पार्टी बदलना, भाजपा का प्रयोग, और फिर आखिरकार दोबारा शिरोमणि अकाली दल में वापसी। समर्थक आज भी उन्हें अनुभवी और मजबूत व्यक्तिगत संबंधों वाला नेता मानते हैं, लेकिन आलोचकों को लगता है कि लगातार दल बदलने और हारों ने उनकी राजनीति को दिशा से ज्यादा सिर्फ राजनीतिक अस्तित्व बचाने वाली बना दिया। आज भी ठंडल ऐसे नेता की छवि देते हैं जो कितने भी झटके आएं, राजनीति छोड़ने को तैयार नहीं। क्या सोहन सिंह ठंडल अब भी दोआबा राजनीति में गंभीर वापसी कर सकते हैं, या पंजाब उन्हें अब ऐसे नेता के रूप में देखने लगा है जो बार बार राजनीतिक बस बदलते हैं लेकिन मंज़िल तक फिर भी नहीं पहुंचते ?
Punjab politics has always had leaders who ruled their areas less like politicians and more like old-school power centres, and Sikander Singh Maluka was often seen as one of the strongest symbols of that Akali-era dominance. From controlling local equations and organisation politics to repeatedly facing accusations of arrogance, pressure tactics, and treating politics like a personal stronghold, Maluka built both fear and influence together for years. Even after political setbacks and changing equations inside Shiromani Akali Dal, he still managed to return to the party in 2025, proving how difficult it is for Akali politics to completely move beyond its old power faces. But in today’s Punjab, where voters openly challenge authority much faster than before, the real question is, does Maluka still represent political strength, or mainly the old Akali culture many Punjabis once wanted to push back against ?
