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The Bharatiya Janata Party has intensified preparations for the Punjab Assembly elections, scheduled for early next year. The party has announced plans to contest all 117 seats, and now PM Modi has personally attempted to strengthen the party by holding a rally. On July 17, PM Modi visited Jalandhar, Punjab, to inaugurate railway projects. He also addressed a BJP rally there, laying out the pitch for the 2027 elections. 

In this rally, PM Modi attacked a number of political parties, including the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, and the Shiromani Akali Dal. Political analysts are officially considering this rally as the start of the BJP’s campaign for the Punjab elections. This is the second time the BJP is contesting the assembly elections independently from the Shiromani Akali Dal, and the party has decided to enter the electoral fray alone this time. 

Key points of PM Modi

PM Modi attacked the current Punjab government led by Bhagwant Mann. He attacked the law and order situation and drug abuse, saying that drug abuse is rampant, making it difficult to do business in the state, and that there’s no guarantee of when and where bullets will be fired. PM Modi even said that even police stations in Punjab are unsafe. 

Attacking the Aam Aadmi Party, the Prime Minister said that the Aam Aadmi Party is a deeply dishonest party and that the Punjab government is enjoying itself by taking loans. He also accused party leaders of accepting bribes.

On the Punjab government’s plan to give money to women, the PM said that along with the farmers, women have also been cheated and Rs 50 thousand should have been deposited in the accounts of women by now. 

Direct target on Congress-Akali

The Congress party in Punjab is currently facing factionalism. Taking a dig at this, PM Modi said that the Congress party is embroiled in a power struggle. Their goal is not to work for Punjab but to decide who will occupy the seat. The PM also targeted his former ally, the Akali Dal, saying that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is also unable to overcome its problems. He even called the Akali Dal selfish. 

How was the pitch prepared for the 2027 elections?

This visit by PM Modi wasn’t merely an administrative one, but rather an attempt to prepare the pitch for the upcoming assembly elections. The PM held a rally in Jalandhar to send a message to the people of the state, stating that Punjab now needs a BJP government. The PM stated that only a BJP government can bring development to Punjab. Today, in Jalandhar, he would like to express his deepest confidence to the youth. He emphasized the importance of the Khelo India policy for its athletes. 

This is the PM’s second visit to Doaba, the bastion of Dalit politics, in six months. During both visits, the PM sought to woo the Ravidassia community, the largest Dalit community. In February, the PM visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan, the largest dera of the Ravidassia community. Following this visit, the PM met the Dera chief on a train from Jalandhar to Varanasi. This dera has considerable influence in the Doaba region, and the train from Jalandhar to Varanasi is also significant because Varanasi is the birthplace of Guru Ravidas. 

Emphasis on Maharaja Ranjit Singh Raj

At PM Modi’s rally, Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon presented PM Modi with a portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Maharaja Ranjit Singh is considered a symbol of Sikh rule and is known as a strong ruler in Punjab. Kewal Singh Dhillon talks about restoring Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s rule. Through this portrait, the BJP is trying to convey the message to the people of Punjab that if the BJP forms a government in Punjab, governance will be modeled after Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s. The BJP appears to be advancing in the electoral arena by projecting Maharaja Ranjit Singh at the forefront. 

After Bengal, eyes on Punjab

Punjab has remained an impregnable fortress for the Bharatiya Janata Party. For a few months, West Bengal was also a similar fortress for the BJP, but now the BJP has conquered Bengal. Following this, the BJP’s focus is now on Punjab, and Amit Shah himself is strategizing to form a government there. Amit Shah has clearly stated that the next government in Punjab will be formed by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Although forming a government in Punjab appears extremely difficult for the BJP, and even BJP leaders are aware of this, the party workers have faith in Amit Shah’s strategy.