2027 Assembly battle: Drugs top Opposition poll issue in Punjab

New Delhi: Ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, the drug menace is emerging as the central campaign issue for Opposition parties, with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), BJP and Congress all planning sustained outreach around the issue.

Internal surveys cited by parties suggest that nearly a third of the electorate surveyed has been affected by drug abuse, making the issue particularly potent across the border state.

The Opposition's campaigns come as the AAP government continues its "Yudh Nasheyan Virudh" campaign. Opposition parties, however, are seeking to turn the issue into a question of governance, accountability and the safety of families. ET takes a look at the different campaigns being planned:


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SAD: Women-centric campaign

For the SAD, the anti-drug campaign is also an attempt to reshape its political narrative on an issue on which the party has faced criticism for allegedly turning a blind eye during its years in government.SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal is planning a fresh women-centric campaign from October 5, tentatively titled "Maavan Dhiyaan Di Lalkar" (war cry of mothers and sisters).

The SAD is proposing that women should lead the fight against drugs, including through a separate government ministry headed by women.

A senior party functionary told ET,"The party has been out of power for a decade and, if the drug problem was primarily a product of the previous Akali governments, it should have been eliminated by now."

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BJP: Taking to roadshows

The BJP has already turned the drug issue into a statewide mobilisation campaign. Its four parallel "Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras" began on September 18 and are scheduled to cover nearly 4,000 km across all 117 Assembly constituencies before converging in Jalandhar on September 30.

Congress: Whistleblower protection

Congress is focusing not only on drug availability but also on alleged attacks and harassment of people who raise their voice against the drug trade.

The party has being holding protests over the death of Gulzar Singh and demanded a fair investigation, while also raising the case of Mohanjit Singh of Sangrur and seeking protection for drug whistleblowers and informants.