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?
Jagdeep Singh Cheema and Emaan Singh Mann both entered the Fatehgarh Sahib contest in 2022 from different Akali streams, yet neither managed to break through decisively. Cheema, representing the Shiromani Akali Dal, and Mann from the SAD (Amritsar), together reflected how fragmented Panthic politics has become. As Punjab moves toward 2027, does this split continue to dilute Akali influence, or does it open space for a reset within Panthic leadership ? And in a constituency where margins matter, can divided symbolism ever convert into consolidated votes ?
2022 में फतेहगढ़ साहिब से अलग-अलग अकाली धाराओं के उम्मीदवार के रूप में मैदान में उतरे जगदीप सिंह चीमा और इमान सिंह मान, लेकिन दोनों ही निर्णायक असर नहीं छोड़ पाए। एक ओर शिरोमणि अकाली दल के चीमा और दूसरी ओर अकाली दल (अमृतसर) के मान, दोनों मिलकर पंथक राजनीति के बिखराव की तस्वीर पेश करते हैं। 2027 की ओर बढ़ते पंजाब में सवाल यह है कि क्या यह विभाजन अकाली प्रभाव को और कमजोर करता रहेगा या फिर पंथक नेतृत्व के लिए किसी नए सिरे से शुरुआत की गुंजाइश बनेगी ? और जहां हर वोट मायने रखता है, वहां क्या बंटी हुई प्रतीकात्मक राजनीति कभी एकजुट समर्थन में बदल पाएगी ?
Parkash Singh Bhatti was a Congress MLA from Balluana in 2002, who left the party in 2017 after being denied a ticket, and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal. Later he contested Bathinda Rural in 2022 as the Akali Dal candidate, securing 30,617 votes (24.9%). In 2024, he returned to the Congress yet again. Now, with Bhatti gone and Jagsir Singh Kalyan appointed as the new Akali Dal district president for Bathinda Rural, the focus shifts to the future. Is the Akali Dal preparing to back its organisational face and field Kalyan from Bathinda Rural in 2027 ? And does Bhatti’s exit mark a clear shift from personality-based bets to a cadre-driven strategy for the party ?
