Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has announced that he intends to run from the Gidderbaha constituency in the 2027 Punjab assembly election, shifting from his long-standing seat in Jalalabad. His decision comes as major political parties in Punjab begin early preparations for the next provincial vote. Badal said the move followed repeated requests from residents of Gidderbaha, a constituency he previously represented before moving to Jalalabad more than a decade ago. The riding has been the focus of speculation since former SAD leader Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon joined the Aam

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in India for a two-day official visit that New Delhi says will centre on trade, defence co-operation and broader geopolitical issues. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received Putin at Palam Air Force Station and accompanied him to the prime minister’s residence, a gesture Indian officials described as a sign of the long-standing bilateral relationship. The visit comes ahead of the 23rd India–Russia annual summit scheduled for Friday, where both sides are expected to review defence procurement, energy collaboration and efforts to s

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a bail application filed by senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former state minister Bikram Singh Majithia in a case alleging assets disproportionate to his known income. The ruling upholds an earlier decision by a Mohali court, which had also declined to grant him relief. Majithia has been in judicial custody since June 25, when the Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrested him in connection with an alleged money laundering matter linked to proceeds from drug trafficking. He is currently lodged at the New Nabha Jail in Patiala. The allegations form pa

A Bathinda court has postponed the scheduled appearance of actor and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kangana Ranaut, who was expected to attend proceedings on Thursday in a defamation case linked to comments made during the 2020–21 farmers’ protest. The court has now directed her to appear on December 15. Her legal counsel informed the court that Ranaut is currently occupied with the ongoing Lok Sabha session and is unable to attend in person. The court accepted the submission and granted an extension. Complainant Mahinder Kaur, along with a witness, appeared before the court on Thursday. Kaur f

Punjab representatives in the Lok Sabha have renewed demands for a dedicated federal relief package to support farmers whose crops were damaged during this year’s monsoon flooding. The call was raised by Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Aam Aadmi Party MP Malvinder Singh Kang, who urged the Union government to release recovery funds without further delay. Kang told the House that intense rainfall in August and September left extensive losses across six districts, affecting more than 2,500 villages. He said the state has yet to receive any portion of the assistance that was expected foll

Farmer unions in Punjab say they will stage a statewide railway blockade on December 5 to highlight what they describe as unresolved demands related to minimum support price legislation and other pending issues. The action has been announced by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha, which has been leading several recent mobilizations in the state. Union representative Sarwan Singh Pandher said the protest will be symbolic and peaceful, adding that its purpose is to draw the attention of both the central and Punjab governments to long-standing commitments farmers believe remain unaddressed. He not

Former Punjab chief minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amarinder Singh says the BJP will likely need to rebuild its ties with the Shiromani Akali Dal if it hopes to return to power in the state. Speaking about the party’s prospects, he suggested that forming a government without an alliance would be difficult in Punjab’s current political landscape. Singh said discussions on seat sharing between the BJP and the Akali Dal had nearly been finalized ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election but fell apart late in the process. He cautioned that if the two parties do not realign, the

Punjab has scheduled elections for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti bodies for December 14, introducing several procedural changes aimed at improving participation and oversight. The State Election Commission confirmed that ballots will be cast using paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines, marking a shift from recent local elections. Half of all seats will be reserved for women, a measure officials say is intended to strengthen representation and broaden community involvement in local governance. Vote counting is set for December 17. For the first time, each district will have a

The acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, met with the family of a 13-year-old girl who was killed during an alleged attempted sexual assault in Jalandhar, urging authorities to pursue the maximum punishment allowed under law. The visit comes as community members continue to express concern about the handling of the case. During the meeting, the Jathedar offered prayers for the victim and received a detailed account of the events from the family. He assured them that the Panth’s highest temporal seat, along with the broader Sikh community, supports the family as the