Sangrur: Kicking off the Congress party’s campaign for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a fierce attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during the ‘Insaaf Rally’ on Wednesday. The presence of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala’s father, Sardar Balkaur Singh, on the dais served as a significant emotional and political focal point for the opposition’s strategy.
Choosing Sangrur, the home turf and electoral stronghold of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, for the campaign launch is a calculated move. The district falls in the politically crucial Malwa region, which accounts for 69 of the state’s 117 assembly seats and is currently dominated by AAP. By rallying here, the Congress leadership aimed to directly challenge the state government while attempting to project a united front.
Addressing the gathering, Gandhi sharply criticized the Mann-led administration over the persistent drug menace and the state’s law-and-order situation. Launching a personal attack on the Chief Minister, Gandhi claimed that during their shared time as MPs in the Lok Sabha, Mann frequently smelled of alcohol by 11 am. “The chief minister can’t get intoxicated every evening,” Gandhi alleged, questioning how a leader under the influence could effectively combat the state’s drug crisis. He further accused the AAP government of taking its administrative orders directly from Delhi rather than operating independently in Punjab.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who also addressed the crowd, echoed these sentiments, accusing the current regime of severe corruption and financial mismanagement.
The emotional core of the rally was Gandhi’s tribute to Sidhu Moosewala, who was killed in May 2022 after his state security cover was reduced. Gandhi recalled his first meeting with the “dynamic, talented young man,” noting that his intention was to offer the singer political protection as he entered public life. Pointing to Balkaur Singh on stage, Gandhi stated that Moosewala’s daylight murder represents a broader breakdown of security in Punjab, where ambitious youth are allegedly intimidated by gang violence.
Political analysts speaking to local media noted that giving Moosewala’s father a prominent space on the main stage is a clear signal to the state’s youth and rural voter base. By amplifying issues of gangsterism and the narcotics trade, Congress is laying the groundwork to aggressively corner the incumbent government over the next year.