According to the data released by the Punjab government, based on the 2011 census and now estimated to have crossed a population of 3 crores, there are over 35 lakh agricultural workers in Punjab, accounting for 35% of the total workforce. The total workforce in Punjab is approximately 97.98 lakh.
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Considering these statistics, do you think there is a need for a new strategy for the development of the agricultural sector in Punjab?
As the Shiromani Akali Dal looks for a political reset ahead of the 2027 Punjab elections, there is growing talk within party circles about whether projecting Harsimrat Kaur Badal as the Chief Ministerial face could change the narrative. A three-time MP from Bathinda and former Union Minister, she brings administrative experience, a wider public profile, and could also become the Akali Dal’s first woman Chief Minister if projected. With several leaders having rebelled, drifted away or joined other parties amid resentment over Sukhbir Singh Badal’s leadership, the key question is whether a leadership recalibration could help bridge internal divides and present the party as a united and stronger regional force once again ?
शिरोमणि अकाली दल 2027 के पंजाब विधानसभा चुनावों से पहले राजनीतिक पुनर्संरचना की कोशिशों में लगा है। पार्टी के भीतर यह चर्चा तेज है कि क्या हरसिमरत कौर बादल को मुख्यमंत्री चेहरे के रूप में आगे लाने से पार्टी की राजनीतिक दिशा बदल सकती है। बठिंडा से तीन बार सांसद और पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री रही हरसिमरत कौर बादल प्रशासनिक अनुभव और व्यापक जन पहचान रखती हैं, और यदि उन्हें आगे किया जाता है तो वे अकाली दल की पहली महिला मुख्यमंत्री भी बन सकती हैं। सुखबीर सिंह बादल के नेतृत्व को लेकर असंतोष के कारण कई नेता बगावत कर चुके हैं, दूरी बना चुके हैं या अन्य दलों में जा चुके हैं। ऐसे में सवाल यह है कि क्या नेतृत्व में बदलाव पार्टी के भीतर की खाई को पाटकर उसे फिर से एकजुट और मजबूत क्षेत्रीय ताकत बना सकता है ?
AAP spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has questioned Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal over the party’s past alliance with the BJP, alleging inconsistency on issues related to farmers and Punjab’s interests. However, with the Akali Dal now projecting itself as a strong regional voice and distancing its political line after the alliance break, the debate has shifted to whether past partnerships should define present positioning ahead of 2027. Is the criticism a political rhetoric or an attempt to question the revival of Akali Dal’s independent Panthic and Punjab-centric stance ?
