Harsimrat Kaur Badal filed her nomination form from Bathinda

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