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In Punjab, 14 January is important from religious, historical and political point of view. Every year in the month of Magh, Maghi fair is organized at Muktsar Sahib in Punjab on the day of Makar Sankranti. A glimpse of Punjab’s politics can also be seen in this fair. Every political party tries to show its power in this fair. This year also, before the elections to be held in 2027, many political parties are going to hold their political conferences in this fair. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going to start its mission for Punjab entry in 2027 from this fair. At the same time, parties like Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will also show their strength.

Maghi Mela is celebrated in the memory of 40 Sikh warriors of Muktsar battle. In the ‘Battle of Muktsar’ of 1705, 40 Sikh warriors (also known as Chali Muktes) made the supreme sacrifice in battle against the Mughal army along with Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Guru Gobind Singh Ji declared him free. For this reason this place was also named Muktar. On the day of Makarsakranti in the month of Magh, devotees come to take bath in the lake located here. Kirtan and Akhand Paath take place in Gurudwaras. Along with this, a traditional fair is also organised, in which wrestling and other sports are organised.

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Politically important fair

This fair holds great importance in the politics of Punjab. On this day, along with the fair, political arenas are also organized here. On this day, every political party of the state tries to showcase its strength in this fair. For decades, everyone from the Chief Minister of Punjab to the Leader of Opposition and senior leaders of other parties come here and hold rallies. On this day, through political speeches, leaders convey their party’s policies, promises and messages to the public. In the politics of Punjab, Sikh sect, martyrdom, Panthak issues and identity of Punjab have been at the center of politics, hence Maghi Mela has become an effective medium to connect the public emotionally. Overall, it can be said that the direction of politics for the next one year is visible in this fair.

BJP will show strength for the first time

Shiromani Akali Dal is preparing to make a comeback in Punjab politics once again. SAD party has been preparing for the show of strength in this fair for a long time. With this conference of Muktsar fair, SAD is going to raise the trumpet of Punjab Assembly elections to be held next year. SAD leader Sukhbir Badal said that through this conference, there will be a new beginning in the politics of Punjab and the message of SAD’s return will be given in the state.

Let us tell you that SAD did not stop its political conferences even when in 2017 the Jathedar of Akal Takht had asked to keep politics away from the Muktsar fair. He had appealed not to organize political conferences. After this, many parties including Congress had stopped political conferences but SAD continued this tradition. SAD said that political activities have always been taking place in Maghi Mela, even before 1920, political conferences were held here. At that time Akali Dal had not even come into existence.

BJP ready to show strength

Bharatiya Janata Party is not able to make its place in the politics of Punjab. After separation from Akali Dal, the party has been marginalized. BJP has suffered a crushing defeat in the 2022 assembly elections and 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as by-elections and local body elections. Many leaders of Punjab BJP are now talking about taking the party forward on their own and in this series, for the first time, BJP is going to hold a political conference at its level in Muktsar Fair. Many big leaders of the state including former Union Minister Anurag Thakur, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, National General Secretary Tarun Chugh can attend this conference.

Till now BJP has been sharing the stage with Akali Dal. Many big leaders of BJP have been seen on the stage with Akali Dal in this fair, but this time the circumstances are different. This time there is no alliance between Akali Dal and BJP. In such a situation, for the first time, BJP has decided to hold a political conference at its level in Muktsar Fair. BJP will try to gauge the mood of Punjab through this conference and after that will prepare its strategy for the 2027 assembly elections. BJP will also keep an eye on the conference of Akali Dal as there is speculation about both the parties coming together.

AAP will show strength

Aam Aadmi Party had registered a bumper victory in the 2022 assembly elections in Punjab. Now the AAP government has been in power for four years and in the elections to be held next year, the party will again try to repeat its 2022 performance. Therefore, the party will showcase its strength in the Muktar Mela. When Aam Aadmi Party had to give a big message of entering Punjab in 2016, Arvind Kejriwal had come from Delhi to this fair to attend the AAP conference. In 2016, Aam Aadmi Party surprised everyone by gathering more crowds than other political parties. Although the party had stopped political conferences after 2017, this year the party has decided to show strength.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and party chief Arvind Kejriwal will attend this conference. Both will count the work of the last four years of their government and will also set the agenda for the next one year as well as the next assembly elections. It is believed that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann can also make some big announcements from this platform today.

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Congress will not hold conference

Apart from BJP, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, local parties of Punjab are also going to hold political conference in this fair. However, Congress will not hold a political conference in this fair this year also. After 2017, the party has stopped holding political conferences in this fair. These days, Punjab Congress is holding big rallies regarding MNREGA, hence the party will not hold a political conference in Muktsar Mela this year also. Punjab Congress President Raja Wadig said that Congress does not hold any political conferences on religious occasions as per the orders of Akal Takht Sahib. However, it is believed that Congress may hold a big conference in Muktsar after Maghi Mela.

Overall, it can be said that today the political temperature of Punjab politics is going to rise. All political parties will sound the trumpet of 2027 assembly elections from Muktsar. The opposition will attack the Punjab government and present its agenda before the public. At the same time, Aam Aadmi Party will take the work of its government among the public and it is possible that CM Bhagwant Mann may try to create an atmosphere in his favor by making some big announcement.