Chandigarh: The Punjab State Assembly elections are expected to be held in early 2027, and election-related activities have already commenced across the state. In preparation for the upcoming polls, various political parties are currently revamping their organizational structures.
The Akali Dal Waris Punjab De (ADWPD), formed by jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, has begun announcing its candidates for various constituencies, even though the official election schedule for Punjab has yet to be declared. These early announcements are generally believed to bring clarity within party circles, allowing candidates to openly organize activities and build grassroots support.
On August 10, 2026, the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De announced the candidature of S. Satwant Singh, son of Shaheed Bhai Kehar Singh, who was sentenced to death by Indian courts in the Indira Gandhi case. Satwant Singh is being fielded by the ADWPD from the Bassi Pathana constituency.
Interestingly, his candidacy was announced in his absence. Tarsem Singh, the father of Amritpal Singh, stated that Satwant Singh was abroad and that the decision to field him from Bassi Pathana was made after his family gave their approval. He further noted that with this announcement, the party has begun fulfilling its promise to allocate election tickets to the family members of Sikh martyrs (shaheeds).
Notably, Bibi Amrit Kaur had already announced her candidacy from the same constituency as an independent candidate. Bibi Amrit Kaur is the daughter of Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh, who was killed by other security personnel after he and Bhai Satwant Singh executed Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
With the ADWPD officially fielding S. Satwant Singh from Bassi Pathana, family members of two Sikh martyrs from the same historical case will be facing off in the run-up to the Punjab State Assembly elections. This unprecedented situation has alarmed many well-wishers of these families within Sikh circles. However, at present, both candidates are standing their ground and remain determined to contest the election from the same constituency.
According to a report in Times of India (TOI) a common relative of Both Satwant Singh and Amrit Kaur said: “It is ‘Qurbani’ versus ‘Qurbani’ in Bassi Pathana”. Notably both aspirants carry intertwined family legacies as Bhai Kehar Singh was married to Bhai Beant Singh’s cousin.
