Akali Dal faction pushes pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh as Punjab CM face, launches membership drive

AMRITSAR: Having propped up jailed MP and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh as its CM face, Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) has constituted teams to undertake enrolment drives in 21 of the total 23 districts in Punjab, said his father, Tarsem Singh, on Wednesday.
Tarsem added that teams would be formed for the remaining two districts soon. When asked about Amritpal being projected as the party's CM face, Tarsem clarified that Amritpal had never aspired to be a leader or even an MP, let alone CM, the public and Panthic sentiments were naturally showing rising support for him.
The party's push for enrolling members comes at a time when it has tried to publicise that Amritpal would be its CM candidate when Punjab goes to polls in 2027. Speaking at the party's rally at Talwandi Sabo on Baisakhi, Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa had urged supporters to ensure Amritpal is elected the CM in 2027. Amritpal is the MP from Khadoor Sahib. Both Khalsa and Amritpal had contested 2024 Lok Sabha elections as independent candidates and won.
Tarsem also slammed bids to disturb communal harmony in the state. He said although an atmosphere of pitting one community against another was being created in the state, the people of Punjab wouldn't allow any such design to materialise.
Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) is banking on Amritpal even as he continues to be lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act. There is talk of him being transferred back to Punjab, but nothing has materialised.