After 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur, AAP to focus on Guru Ravidas’ 650th
That 2026 also marks the final year of the AAP government’s tenure. With Scheduled Castes forming 32.5 per cent of Punjab’s population, the highest proportion for any state in the country, the community has always remained a central pivot of Punjab’s electoral politics.
In the 2022 Assembly elections, AAP secured overwhelming support from Scheduled Castes, winning a majority of the state’s 34 reserved seats, considered a decisive factor behind its landslide victory.
After wrapping up the commemoration of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is preparing for another major religious show with significant political overtones, the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, scheduled for February 2027.
With Assembly elections due in early 2027, the government plans to kick off the commemorations a year in advance. The formal announcement will be made from Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur district, revered as the birthplace of Guru Ravidas, on Guru Ravidas Jayanti in February 2026.
The officials of the government are already preparing for the show. “The celebrations will run through the year, with a detailed calendar of events across Punjab and outside the state. The Department of Cultural Affairs, which coordinated the Guru Tegh Bahadur commemorations across multiple states, has already begun groundwork for the Ravidas anniversary,” an official said.
That 2026 also marks the final year of the AAP government’s tenure. With Scheduled Castes forming 32.5 per cent of Punjab’s population, the highest proportion for any state in the country, the community has always remained a central pivot of Punjab’s electoral politics. Within this, the Ravidassia community constitutes the largest segment, followed by the Valmiki-Mazhabi Sikh population.
In the 2022 Assembly elections, AAP secured overwhelming support from Scheduled Castes, winning a majority of the state’s 34 reserved seats, considered a decisive factor behind its landslide victory. Four years into governance, the AAP is looking to outdo the rival parties to reclaim the Dalit vote.
Celebrating Guru Ravidas Jayanti on an unprecedented scale, senior leaders indicate, is part of a broader effort to reinforce AAP’s political messaging among SC voters, blending cultural assertion with governance outreach.
Sources say the government may use the occasion to announce fresh welfare measures, scholarships, infrastructure projects in Dalit-dominated areas and initiatives linked to religious tourism around Guru Ravidas-related sites.
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The commemoration will throw focus on AAP’s emphasis on the Scheduled Castes. With the Congress still struggling to regain credibility among Dalit voters after its 2022 rout, and the Shiromani Akali Dal attempting a revival through Panthic and community-specific outreach, AAP sees consolidation of the SC vote as critical to offset potential erosion among other social groups.
The near absence of the BSP as an independent political force has further intensified competition for Dalit support.
This is not the first time a Punjab government has used religious symbolism to engage the Scheduled Castes. While former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had announced a memorial for Guru Ravidas at Khuralgarh, his successor Amarinder Singh expanded the project by announcing the Minar-e-Begumpura memorial, which was completed during the tenure of Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab’s first Dalit Chief Minister and a member of the Ravidassia community.
For AAP, however, the stakes are even higher. With limited traditional party structures and a government record that will soon be up for electoral scrutiny, the party is leaning heavily on cultural connect, symbolism and targeted welfare to retain the loyalty of a community that not only forms nearly a third of the electorate but also has the potential to decisively shape Punjab’s 2027 verdict.
Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.
Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.
Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.
Special Projects:
Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.
Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:
1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
"Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.
"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.
"Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.
2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
"Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.
"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.
3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
"Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.
"Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.
4. Welfare & Economy
"Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program.
"Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025).
Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.
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