The past few election cycles have been disappointing for SAD in Gidderbaha.

Sukhbir Singh Badal Announces Plan to Contest 2027 Punjab Elections from Gidderbaha

On Monday, President of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Sukhbir Singh Badal, announced that he will contest the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections from the Gidderbaha assembly constituency. The announcement came during the inauguration of a new party office in Gidderbaha, a facility that will serve as his campaign base for the upcoming polls.

Gidderbaha was a stronghold of SAD in the past. Sukhbir’s father, Parkash Singh Badal, a former Chief Minister of Punjab, had won the seat five times (in 1969, 1972, 1977, 1980 and 1985).  After Parkash Singh Badal, the seat passed to Manpreet Badal, who is another member of the family who held it until 2007.

 The past few election cycles have been disappointing for SAD in Gidderbaha. Since 2007, the party has failed to win the general elections three times and also lost the by-election. The last incumbent MLA from Gidderbaha was Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who won the bypoll in November 2024 after the previous seat-holder, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring of the Indian National Congress, vacated it following his Lok Sabha election win from Ludhiana.

Sukhbir Singh Badal said during the inauguration while addressing party workers, “I will contest from here (Gidderbaha).” He also did not rule out contesting from a second seat, and according to party insiders, the additional seat might be either Lambi or Jalalabad.

Badal appears to be banking on the historic association of the constituency with his family. By choosing Gidderbaha, hoping to revive SAD’s fortunes there after recent electoral losses. Political observers note that though challenging the seat is a favourable choice for the SAD chief.

Source: Times of India