Political Realignments in Punjab: Sukhbir Badal Returns as SAD Chief, Dalvir Singh Goldy Rejoins Congress

Punjab’s political landscape saw significant shifts on Saturday as former MLA Dalvir Singh Goldy rejoined the Congress, while Sukhbir Singh Badal was re-elected president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), triggering reactions across party lines.

Dalvir Singh Goldy formally returned to the Congress in the presence of party general secretary and Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel. The announcement was shared by Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on X:
“Wholeheartedly welcome younger brother @GoldyDS_Dhuri ji to the party fold. He has today formally joined @INCPunjab in the presence of @INCIndia General secretary & state incharge @bhupeshbaghel ji & CLP @Partap_Sbajwa ji.”

Goldy had quit the Congress in May 2023 after being denied the ticket from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat and briefly joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He later distanced himself from AAP as well. Goldy, who won the Dhuri Assembly seat on a Congress ticket in 2017, had lost the 2022 Assembly polls to Bhagwant Mann and also the Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll the same year.

Congress Legislature Party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, who was present at the event, welcomed Goldy’s return and also took a subtle dig at SAD, saying, “While we are gaining back committed grassroots leaders like Goldy, others are recycling leadership without change in direction.”

This comment came in response to the re-election of Sukhbir Singh Badal as the SAD president during the party’s organisational elections held at Teja Singh Samundari Hall in Amritsar the same day. Sukhbir’s return, after stepping down in November 2024 following a tankhaiya declaration by the Akal Takht, has sparked both celebration and criticism within Punjab’s political circles.

Supporters of Sukhbir have launched a high-pitched social media campaign branding him as “vikas purush” (man of development), along with the new slogan “Punjab di pukar, Sukhbir di sarkar.” The campaign is being seen as an effort to rebrand his leadership and revitalize the SAD, which now holds only two seats in the Punjab Assembly.

The two MLAs — Ganieve Kaur (a loyalist of the Badal camp) and Manpreet Singh Ayali (a vocal critic of Sukhbir’s leadership) — represent contrasting factions within the party.

As Punjab heads toward another political cycle, these developments indicate an intensifying churn, with both the Congress and SAD attempting to reposition themselves to regain lost ground.