In the grand political theater of Punjab, one name continues to echo through time, speeches, and family gatherings — Sukhbir Singh Badal, the ever-confident, ever-smiling, and ever-returning President of the Shiromani Akali Dal. To his supporters, he is the symbol of stability, a visionary leader who stood tall in every storm; to his critics, he is the captain of a ship that lost its compass somewhere between Bathinda and Delhi. But in both views, one thing remains true — Sukhbir Badal never gives up, even when the tide has clearly gone the other way.
He is the man of unmatched optimism. When others see defeat, Sukhbir sees a “temporary public misunderstanding.” He can hold a rally in a half-empty ground and still declare, with full confidence, “The crowd was massive, but only visible to loyal Akalis.” His political language is poetry of positivity — every loss is a new lesson, every revolt a test of faith, and every defection just a “miscommunication in the family.” The man has turned denial into an art form and optimism into a strategy.
Sukhbir’s dream was to make Punjab the “California of India.” And yes, he partially succeeded — people indeed migrated to California, but the industries didn’t follow. The roads he built are smooth, but they lead mostly to airports. His bus empire still runs in full swing, a living monument to his belief that if politics fails, transport will not. From luxury Volvo buses to the most scenic toll plazas, he developed a Punjab that truly moves — even if it moves away.
Inside the Akali Dal, loyalty is the first qualification, and Sukhbir’s leadership style resembles a family dinner — everyone gets a plate, but the menu is already decided. The recent inclusion of Giani Harpreet Singh was seen as a fresh gust of wind, but the air inside the Akali house is so thick with tradition that even new voices start to sound like old echoes. For decades, the presidency of SAD has been treated like an inheritance, not an election — and Sukhbir guards it like ancestral land.
Still, one cannot deny his resilience. In every setback, he finds a reason to smile, pose, and promise a grand revival. When the party lost seats, he called it “silent support.” When senior leaders rebelled, he said “They’ll come back.” And when the people asked for change, he replied, “We are the original change.” That’s Sukhbir Badal — a man who believes that if he repeats the word ‘revival’ enough times, it might actually happen.
But the reality remains harsh. The Akali Dal, once the political heartbeat of Punjab, now gasps for relevance. The Badal family’s stronghold has become a fortress surrounded by doubts. The farmers who once stood with the party now ask tough questions, the youth look elsewhere for hope, and the religious narrative that once bound the Akalis to the people has loosened. Sukhbir stands at the crossroads of history, where his political bus is ready — but the passengers seem unsure of the destination.
Yet, through all this, there is something undeniably fascinating about Sukhbir Singh Badal — his calm amidst chaos, his confidence amidst collapse, and his ability to keep smiling as the world keeps changing around him. Maybe that’s leadership, or maybe that’s delusion. Either way, he remains the most composed man in Punjab politics, standing tall with his dark glasses, eternal patience, and one unshakable belief — that the next election, somehow, will be different.
Satirical Punjabi Poem: “Sukhbir Da Safar”
ਚਸ਼ਮੇ ਪਾਏ ਨੇ, ਨਿਕਟ ਸੁਹਣੀਆਂ ਨੇ,
ਹਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਯਾਦ ਰੱਖਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਬੱਸਾਂ ਚਲਦੀਆਂ ਨੇ, ਖਿਸਕਦੀ ਜਾਏ,
ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਸੱਤਾ ਚਾਨਚੱਕ, ਪਰ, ਪਰ ਲੋਕਾਂ dy ਜਾਏ।
ਪਾਰਟੀ ਵਰਗੀ, ਕੁਰਸੀ ਮੂਲ ਦੀ ਆਪਣੀ,
ਜਨਤਾ ਦੀ, ਸੁਣਾਈ ਦੇ ਕਾਤਾਂ ਦੀ।
ਕਹਿੰਦਾ “ਰੰਗਲਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ” ਬਣਾਉਣਾ ਕਦੇ,
ਪਰ ਹਰ ਵਾਰ ਸੁਣੀਏ “ਫਿਰ ਆਵਾਂ ਕਦੇ!