Chandigarh: As preparations for the 2027 Punjab assembly elections gather pace, all political parties have begun intensifying their groundwork. The BJP, meanwhile, is working on a distinct strategy to strengthen its foothold in the state by leveraging the Haryana government’s initiatives, moves that could influence Punjab’s political landscape.
In recent months, the Haryana government has announced several decisions aimed at appealing to Punjabis. These steps are being seen as part of a broader BJP strategy to make inroads in Punjab ahead of the elections.
At the same time, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has increased his visits to Punjab. On Thursday, he paid obeisance at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib to pay respects to the four Sahibzadas. The visit comes amid a series of symbolic and policy-driven initiatives by the Haryana government.
Recently, the Haryana government decided to provide jobs to family members of 121 victims of the 1984 Delhi Sikh massacre. In addition, a major religious event was organised in Kurukshetra to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, which was attended by PM Modi.
Following this, a discussion was held in the Haryana Assembly during the winter session while presenting a vote of thanks for the celebrations related to Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom anniversary.
The BJP has also been making targeted efforts to attract women voters. After forming the government in Haryana for a third term, the party introduced a scheme in its first year to provide ₹2,100 per month to women. In contrast, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has not been able to implement its promise of providing ₹1,000 per month to women even after nearly four years in power.
In recent months, the BJP-led central government also rolled back several decisions related to the Panjab University issue after sensing discontent among Punjabis. Around the same time, the project to construct a separate Haryana Assembly building in Chandigarh was also put on hold.
Political observers believe these developments reflect a calculated attempt by the BJP to use governance decisions and symbolic outreach from Haryana to shape political opinion in Punjab ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
