CHANDIGARH, October 26: Former Congress MLA from Jalalabad, Raminder Singh Awla, has joined the Shiromani Akali Dal, giving the party a prominent entrant from Punjab’s border belt ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal formally inducted Awla into the party at his Chandigarh residence on Sunday. Senior Akali leader Parambans Singh Bunty Romana was also present.
Welcoming Awla, Sukhbir expressed confidence that the former legislator would strengthen the Akali Dal in Jalalabad and neighbouring constituencies. He recalled his longstanding association with Jalalabad, whose voters elected him to the Punjab Assembly three times.
In a social media statement, Sukhbir credited previous Akali governments with extensive development in the constituency and said Awla would contribute towards strengthening the party across the border belt for the 2027 elections.
Awla’s induction is politically significant because he had defeated the SAD in one of its traditional strongholds. Contesting on a Congress ticket, he won the October 2019 Jalalabad by-election against Akali candidate Raj Singh Dibbipura.
The by-election was necessitated after Sukhbir vacated the Assembly seat following his election to the Lok Sabha from Ferozepur. Awla subsequently represented Jalalabad in the Punjab Assembly until 2022.
His move brings a former electoral opponent into the Akali fold as the SAD attempts to expand its support and organisational presence ahead of the next Assembly polls.
A prominent businessman and former Punjab Youth Congress president, Awla hails from the adjoining Guru Har Sahai Assembly segment in Ferozepur district. Although he did not contest the 2022 Assembly election, he remained active in Congress politics.
Earlier this year, Awla led the Congress campaign in the Guru Har Sahai municipal elections, where the party won 13 of the 15 wards. His departure could therefore affect the Congress organisation beyond Jalalabad, depending on how many local leaders and supporters follow him.
The development also brings renewed attention to differences within the Congress over candidate selection. However, a detailed statement from Awla explaining his reasons for leaving the party was not available.
His entry into the SAD is likely to intensify political activity in the Ferozepur–Fazilka region as parties prepare for the 2027 electoral contest.