AMRITSAR, Aug. 28 -- Baba Bakala, a historic town in Amritsar district, is set to witness an intense political showdown on August 28, with five major political parties - the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), BJP and Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) - holding separate conferences on the occasion of the annual Rakhar Punia festival.

Although the 2027 Punjab assembly elections are still months away, the scale of preparations by the parties has made Baba Bakala, associated with ninth Sikh master Guru Tegh Bahadur, an early political arena in the state. The gatherings are expected to serve as a test of organisational strength, cadre mobilisation and the parties' ability to draw supporters in the strategically impor...