Punjab elections: Registration hurdles for 'Waris Punjab De'
The registration of the proposed political party 'Akal Dal (Waris Punjab De)' linked to MP Amritpal Singh is stalled ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections.
Looking at recent history, Punjab has been a sensitive state. This state faced a lot of violent situations in the 80s and 90s. Amid changing equations in the country and the world, a dispute has arisen between ‘Waris Punjab De’ and the Election Commission regarding certain matters, and this article attempts to explore what documents have been filed in court regarding this issue.
Before the Punjab Assembly elections, the proposed political party ‘Aam Aadmi Party (Waris Punjab De)’ linked to Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh is facing delays in registration. The party has demanded from the Delhi High Court that the Election Commission make a decision on its application within the stipulated time. The Commission informed the court that it has received sensitive information regarding the party's alleged Khalistani separatist links and is awaiting a detailed investigation report from the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab. A final decision on the registration is still pending. The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 11, 2027.
‘Waris Punjab De’ was founded by actor and activist Deep Sidhu in 2021. Later, Amritpal Singh took over its leadership. In January 2025, Amritpal's father and Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa announced the formation of a new political party named ‘Aam Aadmi Party (Waris Punjab De)’. The application for this proposed party is with the Election Commission. Amritpal won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from Khadoor Sahib.
The party submitted its application on January 22, 2025, and the Commission acknowledged its receipt on February 6. According to the Commission, it provided 30 days in September 2025 to rectify the deficiencies in the application. Revised documents were submitted in January 2026. Subsequently, the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab sent a favorable verification report on April 27. Meanwhile, the applicant approached the Delhi High Court, seeking approval for the proposed name and registration as a political party. On July 1, Justice Amit Bansal issued a notice to the Commission seeking a response.
The Commission stated in affidavits filed on September 14 and November 3 that during the pendency of the petition, on July 9, it received sensitive information. According to the Commission, the information raised questions about the proposed party's alleged separatist background and the involvement of individuals detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in its formation. The Commission requested a detailed investigation report from the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab regarding these allegations on July 14. The Commission claims it also sent reminders, but it has not yet received the report.
According to the Commission, the new information is related to questions that require investigation before making a decision. It requested the court to dispose of the petition and stated that further action would be taken as per the law upon receiving the report. On November 4, Justice Sourabh Banerjee recorded the Commission's arguments and scheduled further hearings for January. The available orders and reports do not contain any conclusions from the court regarding the alleged separatist links.
Amritpal Singh's personal custody proceedings are related to a criminal case ongoing in Punjab. After the expiry of his detention period under the NSA in April 2026, Punjab Police arrested him in connection with the 2023 Ajnala police station violence case. Under the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he is in judicial custody in Assam's Dibrugarh jail for security reasons. Following the death of his grandmother Charan Kaur, the family has filed a petition in the Amritsar court for his temporary release to attend the last rites.
Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, is the basis for the registration of political parties. Under this, the applicant party's constitution or rules must contain provisions for loyalty to the Indian Constitution and the principles of socialism, secularism, and democracy. There must also be a commitment to maintaining the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. The Commission may seek additional information. The law states that the Commission should consider relevant facts and inform the applicant of its decision after providing a fair opportunity for a hearing.
The current question in the Delhi High Court is whether to set a deadline for the Election Commission to decide on the registration amid the pending investigation. Upon receiving the report from the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab, the Commission will have to determine whether the proposed party meets the conditions of Section 29A in light of the new objections and application documents.
Amid all these matters, there is hope that peace and tranquility will prevail in the state and that any legal issues will be resolved through a fair and transparent legal process.