Sukhbir launches focused micro-management drive for urban areas

June 14, 2026 , The Shiromani Akali Dal has gained a major victory in the Qadian municipal committee elections by winning eight out of the 15 seats and is set to form its own committee.

The victory is noteworthy, coming as it does, in the home constituency of Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa. The Qadian victory is also in line with the emerging trend across the State in the civic body elections in which the party outperformed the Congress in vote share.

The strong showing of the SAD in the municipal elections in which it secured a complete majority in 10 committees compared to eight bodies secured by the Congress and two by the BJP is reflecting of its strong position in the State politics.

The vote share of the SAD in the civic elections also indicates it has become a formidable force in urban areas. Notably, of the total 1977 wards, the Shiromani Akali Dal, after major nomination rejections, had contested 1251 seats, whereas Congress fought on 1550 and BJP on 1316 seats.

In Maluka the Shiromani Akali Dal secured 55 per cent votes, in Sangat 51 %, in Kot Shamir 43 %, in Bhagat Bhai Ka 43%, in Majitha 42%, in Mehraj 41%, in Nathana 40%, in Bhucho 37%, in Maur 31% in Faridkot 31% and Samrala 29% vote share.

Apart from this, more than 50 Independent councillors across the state won with the support of Shiromani Akali Dal, of them more than 30 already joined the party in the presence of Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Going by that calculation, data states that the Shiromani Akali Dal will also form Lehra Mohabbat, Budhlada, Rahon and Goniana municipalities.

Earlier during the rural bodies elections — Zila Parishad — despite contesting only 273 seats as Akali nominations were rejected in 51 Seats, the party defeated the Congress as per the overall vote share securing 25.5 per cent of the vote share compared to 25.1 per cent by the Congress and 5.1 per cent by the BJP.

The SAD had also emerged as the main opposition party ahead of the Congress. In both the Malwa and Majha zones the party was ahead of the Congress. In the Malwa zone the SAD secured 27.5 per cent of the votes compared to 24.7 per cent vote share secured by the Congress party. Similarly in the Majha region the SAD secured 25.3 per cent of the vote share compared to 22.2 per cent of the vote share secured by the Congress party.

With the latest Municipal tally, where Shiromani Akali Dal secured more than 260 seats, the Shiromani Akali Dal cannot be called a rural party any longer. It has succeeded in securing vital support in the urban areas, especially in the municipal elections which indicates well for the party in the 2027 assembly elections.

Party insiders say that all this has been possible due to an intensive outreach in the urban areas by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Besides activating the Traders’ Cell he has successively created and operationalised various cells of the party including the Youth Akali Dal, Istri Akali Dal and SC and BC wing.

Each of these wings now have separate in charges, who will work in tandem with the respective Halka in charge/candidate. Their reporting will also be at the party head office, as learnt.

This micro management has already paid results and the SAD is poised for great leap in the 2027 polls.