Ludhiana, Aug. 28 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to hold its first-ever political conference at Chhapar Mela in Ludhiana in September first week. The party will also mount a major show of strength at the upcoming Maghi Mela in Muktsar, signalling that the saffron party is aggressively repositioning itself in Punjab's rural political theatre ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. The party's first full-scale entry plan into traditional Sikh political platforms, like Chhapar Mela and Maghi Mela, is being seen as an attempt to shed its urban-centric image and establish itself as a rural force as well-directly challenging the ruling AAP as well as other parties, mainly the SAD. Senior leaders, including state BJP president Sunil Jakhar, working president Ashwani Sharma, Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and national general secretary Tarun Chugh, are slated to attend the rallies. Preparations are already underway, with party functionaries inspecting the sites. "For the first time, we will hold a political conference at Chhapar Mela. In the past, when we were in alliance with SAD, our participation was minimal. Now, we want to connect directly with people on their platforms," said Anil Sareen, BJP's Punjab general secretary. Sareen added that despite the AAP government suspending its rural outreach camps on grounds of "data privacy," the BJP has held 1,444 camps in three months, helping 1.56 lakh villagers access central schemes. Party spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal said the BJP would contest all 117 seats in the 2027 assembly elections....