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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 ?
पंजाब की राजनीति में हमेशा ऐसे नेता रहे हैं जो अपने इलाकों को सिर्फ राजनीति से नहीं, बल्कि पुराने दौर के पावर सेंटर की तरह चलाते थे, और सिकंदर सिंह मलूका को लंबे समय तक अकाली दौर के सबसे मजबूत दबदबे वाले चेहरों में गिना जाता था। स्थानीय समीकरणों, संगठनात्मक पकड़ और बार-बार लगे अहंकार व दबाव वाली राजनीति के आरोपों के बीच मलूका ने सालों तक डर और प्रभाव दोनों साथ लेकर राजनीति की। राजनीतिक झटकों और शिरोमणि अकाली दल के भीतर बदलते समीकरणों के बावजूद, 2025 में उनकी पार्टी में वापसी ने फिर साबित किया कि अकाली राजनीति के पुराने पावर चेहरे इतनी आसानी से खत्म नहीं होते। लेकिन आज के पंजाब में, जहाँ लोग सत्ता को पहले से कहीं ज्यादा खुलकर चुनौती देते हैं, असली सवाल यह है, क्या मलूका आज भी राजनीतिक ताकत का प्रतीक हैं, या उस पुरानी अकाली संस्कृति का चेहरा जिससे पंजाब कभी बाहर निकलना चाहता था ?
Sucha Singh Langah’s political comeback feels like Punjab politics reminding everyone that controversy may damage a leader’s image, but it rarely kills old-school influence completely. After scandals, jail, and years of public embarrassment, many believed Langah’s political chapter was over. Instead, Akali Dal brought him back as one of the few leaders still capable of controlling ground cadre in parts of Majha. But while supporters call him fearless and effective, critics see him as the exact symbol of Punjab’s rough strongman politics that many voters claim they are tired of. Is Langah still politically valuable, or is Akali Dal simply unable to move beyond its old controversial power culture ?
