The Chhapar Mela, a long‑standing festivity held each September in Ludhiana district to honour the folk deity Gugga, has become a proxy arena for Punjab’s Panthic politics. The fair, normally a neutral gathering, saw the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by Sukhbir Singh Badal and the nascent Waris Punjab De (WPD) under Manpreet Singh Ayali face off, with the ruling AAP, opposition Congress and BJP conspicuously absent.
The WPD, formed by former SAD MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali after aligning with jailed MP Amritpal Singh, used the platform to outline a platform that blends Sikh institutional autonomy with broader socioeconomic issues. Ayali’s speech, delivered in front of a packed crowd, highlighted the party’s drug‑eradication drive—"Khalsa Vahir"—and called for reforms in agriculture, industry, and migration, positioning WPD as more than a religious‑based outfit.
In contrast, Badal’s address focused sharply on Ayali’s departure from SAD, accusing him of colluding with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to split the Panthic vote. He also criticised the absence of AAP’s political conference at the fair, suggesting it unintentionally helped WPD. Badal announced a slate of 2027 promises—government jobs, youth loans, pension enhancements, and the Shagun scheme—presenting SAD as a comprehensive governance alternative.
The clash is more than a spectacle; it is a strategic gamble. If the Panthic vote remains consolidated under SAD’s traditional structure, the party will double‑down on its grassroots network. Conversely, should WPD successfully convert the Mela’s mobilisation into a distinct electoral base, it could upend the established balance in key constituencies, reshaping the 2027 Punjab assembly contest.
The outcome of the Mela will be closely monitored by political operatives, as both parties intend to use the turnout figures as evidence of support ahead of the next election cycle. The next major development will be SAD’s formal launch of its 2027 campaign, while WPD will begin organising mass‑mobilisation drives across the Malwa region.