Waris Punjab De, founded by Deep Sidhu and later led by Amritpal Singh, has entered electoral politics as the Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De).
Amritpal Singh's 2024 Lok Sabha victory from Khadoor Sahib despite detention under the NSA gave the outfit electoral momentum.
The party could challenge the Akali Dal's traditional Panthic base and influence contests involving AAP, Congress and BJP.
Punjab's political landscape is witnessing the emergence of a new regional force as the Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), associated with jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, seeks to establish itself ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The party is attempting to occupy the political space traditionally associated with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which has suffered electoral setbacks and faces competition from rival Akali factions.
The outfit's political prospects are closely linked to Amritpal Singh's popularity, Sikh religious identity, demands concerning Punjab's rights and growing discontent over unemployment, drug addiction and governance. However, its ability to convert its support base into electoral victories will depend on its organisational strength, candidate selection and its capacity to expand beyond its core Panthic constituency.
What Is Waris Punjab De?
Waris Punjab De, which translates to 'Heirs of Punjab', was originally established by actor-activist Sandeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Deep Sidhu, in September 2021.
Sidhu launched the organisation as a social platform intended to raise issues concerning Punjab's rights, language, culture and identity. It initially presented itself as a non-electoral organisation advocating affordable education and healthcare, protection of Punjabi culture and greater political recognition of the state's concerns.
Sidhu had emerged as a prominent figure during the farmers' agitation against the Centre's three farm laws and was also booked in connection with the violence during the January 26, 2021, farmers' tractor rally in Delhi.
Following Sidhu's death in a road accident in February 2022, Amritpal Singh returned from Dubai and assumed leadership of the organisation in September that year. His takeover, however, was disputed by Sidhu's family, which maintained that it had not appointed Amritpal as the head of the original organisation.
The organisation's political trajectory changed significantly after Amritpal and Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa announced the formation of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) at the Maghi Mela in Muktsar on January 14, 2025.
The party sought to establish itself as a regional political alternative, arguing that Punjab needed a new force to address unemployment, drug addiction, corruption, inadequate healthcare and educational facilities, environmental pollution and the perceived erosion of Sikh political representation.
The formation followed the electoral victories of Amritpal Singh and Sarabjit Singh Khalsa in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Both contested as Independents and won from Khadoor Sahib and Faridkot respectively, demonstrating the electoral potential of religious identity-based mobilisation in certain parts of Punjab.
Amritpal Singh: The Face Of The Party
Amritpal Singh is the central figure around whom Waris Punjab De's political identity and electoral appeal have developed.
A native of Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar district, Amritpal returned to Punjab from Dubai in 2022 and assumed leadership of Waris Punjab De.
Amritpal's political messaging has focused on Sikh religious identity, the drug crisis in Punjab, the release of Sikh prisoners and the assertion of Punjab's rights.
Amritpal's rise received a major electoral endorsement in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when he won the Khadoor Sahib constituency as an Independent.
The victory was particularly significant because it came despite his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).
Amritpal was arrested in April 2023 after a month-long police operation and subsequently lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam. He has remained in detention under the NSA, with his political activities largely being carried out through his family and associates.
Amritpal's father, Tarsem Singh, has played a prominent role in the organisation's political activities, including participating in mobilisation efforts.
However, Amritpal's continued detention presents a major challenge. The party's political strategy depends substantially on his popularity, but his absence from the campaign trail limits his ability to directly address voters, organise rallies and build a statewide political network.
What Impact Can Waris Punjab De Have On The 2027 Punjab Assembly Elections?
The 2027 Assembly elections will be a crucial test of whether Waris Punjab De can transform its religious and political mobilisation into a viable electoral force.
Punjab's electoral politics has traditionally been shaped by the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal and, more recently, the Aam Aadmi Party. The BJP has also been attempting to expand its independent political presence in the state, while the Akali Dal's organisational decline has created space for smaller regional formations.
Waris Punjab De's principal opportunity lies in the Panthic political space, particularly among voters dissatisfied with the established Akali leadership.
The Panthic Vote And The Akali Dal's Decline
The Shiromani Akali Dal has historically drawn support from sections of the Sikh electorate through its religious and regional identity, rural networks and influence in Sikh institutions.
However, the party's electoral decline and controversies surrounding its leadership have weakened its ability to retain this support.
Waris Punjab De is attempting to capitalise on this political vacuum by presenting itself as a new regional force committed to Sikh identity and Punjab's interests.
The Amritpal Factor And Electoral Limitations
Amritpal Singh's popularity is both the party's greatest strength and its biggest limitation. His 2024 victory demonstrated that a candidate with a strong religious and political identity could defeat established parties in a constituency.
However, the Khadoor Sahib result cannot automatically be replicated across Punjab. The party's support is likely to be concentrated in areas where Sikh identity, religious institutions and Panthic politics have a strong electoral influence.
Its performance in urban constituencies, areas with substantial Hindu populations and regions where local political networks dominate voting behaviour remains uncertain.
Amritpal's continued detention could further complicate its campaign. The party will have to rely on other leaders to establish its credibility and communicate its political agenda. Its organisational expansion and candidate selection will therefore be critical in determining whether the Amritpal factor translates into a broader electoral movement.
A Possible Spoiler In A Fragmented Contest
Even if Waris Punjab De does not emerge as a major statewide force, it could influence the electoral outcome in closely contested constituencies.
Punjab's Assembly elections are likely to involve multiple political formations competing for overlapping voter bases.
In constituencies where the Akali Dal, Congress and AAP are already locked in competitive contests, Waris Punjab De could affect vote distribution by attracting voters who might otherwise support one of the established parties.
Its influence could be particularly significant in constituencies with a strong Panthic electorate.
The party's electoral impact will therefore not necessarily be measured only by the number of seats it wins. If it succeeds in establishing a credible presence, it may become a factor in post-election alliances or coalition discussions.
Revival Of Panthic Politics
Waris Punjab De's entry into electoral politics marks an attempt to revive regional and Panthic politics in Punjab at a time when the traditional Akali leadership is facing a challenge to its influence.
The party has an identifiable political constituency, a prominent leader in Amritpal Singh and the advantage of the electoral momentum generated by the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
But its prospects in 2027 will depend on whether it can move beyond personality-driven mobilisation and establish a durable political organisation. The 2027 elections will ultimately determine whether Waris Punjab De becomes a significant regional political force or remains a party whose influence is concentrated around Amritpal Singh and the Panthic vote.
