Manpreet Badal Speaks on Vision, Legacy, and the Stakes of the Gidderbaha By-election

A candid on-camera interview of former Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, exclusively by "The Tribune".

Manpreet Badal’s Insightful Interview

The Gidderbaha by-election marks a pivotal juncture, surfacing intricate political dynamics and deep-rooted familial bonds that characterise Punjab’s political landscape. In an in-depth conversation with The Tribune, Manpreet Singh Badal—a five-time MLA, former finance minister, and now a BJP candidate—shared his aspirations for Gidderbaha, his long-standing relationship with the constituency, and his complex ties with cousin and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President, Sukhbir Singh Badal. Gidderbaha, his janmabhoomi and karmabhoomi, holds particular significance as it was his 1995 by-election victory here that paved the way for Parkash Singh Badal’s return to power in 1997. Now, in a turn of fate, Manpreet enters this race as a BJP candidate, locked in a fiercely contested four-way battle, even as the SAD sits out of this by-election.

The Legacy of Gidderbaha and Manpreet’s Return

Gidderbaha has been more than just a constituency for Manpreet; it is a long-standing relationship forged over years of political and personal connection. Having represented the area for nearly two decades, Manpreet considers his bond with Gidderbaha as deeply personal and intergenerational, noting the love and respect he has garnered from the people there. His legacy in Gidderbaha is marked by notable projects such as changing the cropping pattern from cotton to rice, mitigating water contamination through large-scale RO installations, and addressing the community's health crisis due to waterborne illnesses.

However, his departure from Gidderbaha in the past election cycle has drawn criticism and questions from both constituents and opponents. He left due to a perceived loss of voter confidence and personal disillusionment with the SAD’s policies. This move exemplifies a turbulent chapter in Manpreet’s career, as he navigated a fractious relationship with his party and family, eventually joining Congress, only to later align with the BJP. This trajectory—from leaving SAD due to ideological clashes to founding his own party, and ultimately joining the BJP—highlights the unpredictable nature of Punjab’s political field, where alliances are often reconfigured based on evolving personal and political landscapes.

The Financial Prudence Debate

Manpreet’s tenure as finance minister stands out for his focus on financial prudence, a stance he describes as largely unpopular in Punjab. He laments that Punjab has “been living beyond its means,” advocating for fiscal responsibility, even if this prudence conflicted with populist demands. He underscores his unpopularity for promoting budgetary constraints, even within his own party, which he attributes to the broader Punjab public's aversion to austerity measures. Punjab’s fiscal challenges, according to him, require an honest evaluation and acceptance of financial limits, but this often clashes with political promises and demands for development at all costs.

Financial Prudence and Struggles with Debt Relief

One of the key points Manpreet Singh Badal highlighted was his struggle to secure a debt waiver for Punjab. Despite what he described as a promising offer from the Central Government, Punjab’s refusal—led by his uncle, then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal—exposed the challenges he faced in advancing a sustainable financial recovery strategy. His disappointment, if not outright frustration, speaks to a larger issue in Punjab, where political pressures often drive fiscal choices, placing short-term electoral gains above long-term economic stability. Manpreet underscored the difficulty of advocating financial prudence in an environment where fiscal responsibility is routinely overshadowed by populist demands.

Contextual Reality: The Financial Secretary’s Perspective

During this period, I served as Principal Secretary of Finance under Manpreet Singh Badal, from April 2010 until his resignation in October 2011, continuing in this role until the end of the Badal government’s tenure in February 2012, under the new FM Dr Upinderjit Kaur. Based on my firsthand experience and access to pertinent discussions and documents, I can confirm that, while there were both formal and informal negotiations with then Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the lead-up to the GST rollout, no categorical debt waiver offer was made by the Centre. Instead, Punjab faced pressure to relinquish key levies, such as the purchase tax, infrastructure cess, RDF cess/fee, and the market (mandi) fee on food grains, without any substantial compensation framework in place. The assertion that Manpreet resigned on moral grounds due to Parkash Singh Badal’s refusal of a Centre-proposed debt waiver does not align with my recollections or with any official records. Furthermore, even during Manpreet’s subsequent tenure as Finance Minister from 2017 to 2022, he presented no new evidence of such an offer from the Central Government.

Familial Ties and the SAD-BJP Dynamics

At the heart of Manpreet’s political journey is his complex relationship with Sukhbir Singh Badal and the SAD. While there are rumours about a potential alignment or "fixed match" between the cousins, Manpreet dismisses these speculations, asserting that the BJP operates independently of SAD’s interests. Nonetheless, he acknowledges that, despite past disagreements, familial bonds endure. Manpreet’s mention of the historic Unionist Party’s alignment with the Muslim League in pre-Partition India hints at a distant but conceivable future in which SAD and BJP might formally converge under a mutually agreed-upon platform.

This interplay between personal ties and party allegiances remains a defining feature of Punjab’s political arena, where family heritage often intersects with political manoeuvring. Manpreet’s recognition of his late uncle Parkash Singh Badal’s contributions to Punjab reflects his respect for the former CM’s legacy. Manpreet openly credits him as an inspirational figure, who taught him political strategy and service. Despite previous schisms, Manpreet’s alignment with BJP could appeal to SAD’s traditional support base, particularly those who view him as a custodian of Parkash Singh Badal’s legacy.

The BJP’s Vision for Gidderbaha

Now contesting from Gidderbaha as a BJP candidate, Manpreet emphasises that his association with the BJP allows him to bring central government resources and initiatives to his constituency. He cites the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, proposals for smart city status, and infrastructural development projects as part of his plan to transform Gidderbaha into a model BJP constituency. His intent to secure funding for rail projects and irrigation schemes underscores his strategy to link local development with the Centre’s policies.

This approach highlights the BJP’s current strategy in Punjab—to create showcase constituencies that demonstrate the benefits of a BJP-led administration. Manpreet’s emphasis on securing Centre-sponsored schemes also subtly challenges the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, as he suggests that these central schemes will bypass state-level obstacles and directly benefit Gidderbaha residents. His statement that he wants to build Gidderbaha as a “showcase of what BJP Administration would be like” reflects an assertive BJP stance in a state traditionally dominated by SAD and Congress, and now, increasingly, by AAP.

Punjab’s Political and Cultural Identity: Manpreet’s Reflections

Manpreet’s remarks in the interview go beyond the specifics of Gidderbaha, reflecting a broader lament about Punjab’s current state. Once India’s “Shining Star” in fields like sports, agriculture, and military service, Punjab’s decline over recent decades is a source of embarrassment for him, and he views it as a collective failure of the state’s elite to guide it towards a prosperous future. His discourse on “embryo nationalism” unique to Punjab underscores his belief in the state’s historical significance and cultural resilience. He recognises that while Punjab is small in size and population, it has played a disproportionate role in India’s defence and cultural history. Yet, he remains hopeful, noting that “what a man is capable of, we do not know,” alluding to the untapped potential that Punjab could still achieve under the right guidance.

Final Thoughts

Manpreet Singh Badal’s candid conversation with The Tribune provides valuable insights into the complex web of Punjab politics, where family, finances, and culture intersect in profound ways. His return to the electoral arena of Gidderbaha marks not only a personal homecoming but also a strategic BJP play to make inroads into Punjab’s traditionally SAD and Congress strongholds. Manpreet’s vision for a resurgent Gidderbaha, funded by central government schemes and unburdened by fiscal irresponsibility, reflects a broader BJP narrative that seeks to demonstrate governance efficiency.

In the midst of this pivotal by-election, Manpreet represents both the legacy of Punjab’s political past and the BJP’s aspirations for its future. The outcome of the Gidderbaha by-election will not only decide Manpreet’s personal political journey but could also signal a shift in Punjab’s political trajectory as the state grapples with its identity, challenges, and aspirations for growth.