Punjab admin has collapsed, CM Mann fleeing ground: Sukhbir Badal
Synopsis
Sukhbir Badal didn't just attack Bhagwant Mann — he reached for the 2027 election framing. By anchoring his press conference to a visceral police-conduct case in Mansa and announcing a human rights commission complaint, the SAD chief is trying to convert administrative grievances into a regional identity argument ahead of a make-or-break election for his party.
Key Takeaways
SAD President Sukhbir Badal declared Punjab's administrative system 'totally collapsed' in remarks on 28 October 2026 in Chandigarh .
He accused CM Bhagwant Mann of retreating from the field, anticipating defeat in the 2027 assembly elections.
The Daljit Singh case — where police allegedly forcibly took mortal remains from a family in Mansa — was cited as emblematic of unchecked police conduct.
Badal ruled out any alliance with the Congress or AAP , but said the SAD is open to tie-ups with parties accepting its ideology.
The Punjab Yatra has been rescheduled from 10 November to 15 November due to the festival season and crop-sale period.
A SAD delegation will approach the Punjab Human Rights Commission over the Mansa incident and other police high-handedness cases.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday, 28 October launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, declaring that the state's administrative system had 'totally collapsed' and accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of retreating from public life after sensing electoral rejection in 2027. Speaking to mediapersons in Chandigarh, Badal asserted that Punjab belonged to Punjabis and that only a regional party — the Akali Dal — could meet the aspirations of the state's people.
Collapse of Law and Order: What Badal Said
The SAD chief invoked the case of Daljit Singh, whose mortal remains were allegedly forcibly taken away from his family by police in Mansa, as a symbol of unchecked police conduct. 'Never has Punjab witnessed such a situation,' Badal said. He argued that with no firm command at the top, the police had begun acting entirely on their own — a development he described as 'unprecedented.' The alleged assault on the aggrieved family during the incident has further inflamed the controversy.
On Alliance Politics and Rahul Gandhi's Punjab Visit
Badal firmly stated that the SAD would never align with either the Indian National Congress (Congress) or the AAP, but left the door open for partnerships with parties that accept the SAD's ideology and policies. 'We are ready to form an alliance with any political party which accepts our ideologies and policies,' he said, adding, 'Whenever any alliance proposal comes, we will consider the same.' On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to Punjab, Badal was dismissive, saying it would have 'no effect whatsoever' on Punjabis who had already resolved to back their own regional party.
Punjab Yatra Rescheduled to November 15
Party leader Daljit Singh Cheema announced that the Punjab Yatra, originally scheduled for 10 November, has been postponed to 15 November. The delay was attributed to the ongoing festival season and farmers being occupied with crop sales. Cheema confirmed that SAD President Badal would personally lead the yatra.
SAD to Approach Human Rights Commission Over Police Action
Cheema said a party delegation would meet the Punjab Human Rights Commission and formally appeal for action against police personnel involved in the Mansa incident. The delegation plans to raise both the forcible removal of the mortal remains and the alleged beating of the bereaved family. Cheema added that other cases of police high-handedness would also be placed before the commission, signalling a sustained campaign on law-and-order issues ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
This comes amid a broader opposition offensive against the Mann government, with the SAD seeking to reclaim ground it lost heavily in the 2022 Punjab assembly polls. Whether this narrative gains traction will likely depend on how the government responds to the specific allegations at the commission.
Point of View
Badal needs a galvanising narrative — and law-and-order failures, particularly those with an emotional charge like the Mansa mortal-remains case, are potent fuel. The human rights commission route is tactically shrewd: it keeps the issue alive beyond one news cycle. But the bigger question is whether voters who rejected the SAD for corruption in 2022 are ready to trust it again on accountability. Dismissing Rahul Gandhi's Punjab visit as irrelevant also reveals anxiety — a party confident of its base rarely needs to say so.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sukhbir Badal say about Punjab's administration?
Sukhbir Badal said on 28 October that Punjab's administrative system had 'totally collapsed' under the AAP government, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann allegedly withdrawing from the field after sensing rejection in the 2027 elections. He cited unchecked police conduct — including the Mansa mortal-remains incident — as evidence.
What is the Daljit Singh Mansa case that Badal referred to?
The case involves a man named Daljit Singh whose mortal remains were allegedly forcibly taken away from his family by Punjab Police in Mansa. According to SAD's Daljit Singh Cheema, the family was also allegedly beaten during the incident. The SAD plans to file a complaint with the Punjab Human Rights Commission over the matter.
Will the SAD ally with Congress or AAP ahead of 2027?
No. Sukhbir Badal explicitly ruled out any alliance with the Congress or the AAP. He said the SAD is open to partnerships with any party that accepts its ideologies and policies, but both the Congress and AAP are off the table.
Why has the SAD's Punjab Yatra been postponed?
The Punjab Yatra, originally slated to begin on 10 November, has been rescheduled to 15 November. Party leader Daljit Singh Cheema attributed the delay to the ongoing festival season and farmers being busy selling crops. Sukhbir Badal will lead the yatra.
What action is the SAD planning over police high-handedness in Punjab?
A SAD delegation will approach the Punjab Human Rights Commission to seek action against police personnel involved in the Mansa mortal-remains case, as well as other instances of alleged police high-handedness. The party says it will also raise the alleged assault on the Daljit Singh family with the commission.
