BJP Announces Punjab Anti-Drug Campaign Ahead of 2027 Assembly Polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a statewide campaign titled Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras, scheduled to run from September 18 to September 30, 2026. The initiative aims to address the drug crisis in Punjab, which party leadership has identified as a primary challenge alongside issues of law and order and governance. The campaign will span all 117 assembly constituencies in the state, culminating in a rally in Jalandhar to be addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The announcement follows a period of heightened political tension in the state, exacerbated by the death of a Dalit villager. Reports indicate the individual had faced pressure to apologize after questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema regarding the prevalence of synthetic drugs, locally known as chitta, in the region. The BJP has framed its upcoming campaign as a necessary intervention to protect the identity and values of Punjab, positioning the effort as a mass movement rather than a standard political exercise.

The launch of the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatras is explicitly linked to the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections. State BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, alongside national vice-president Manpreet Singh Badal and former state chief Sunil Jakhar, unveiled the campaign schedule in Chandigarh. The party has adopted the slogan Bhajpa Da Naara, Nasha Mukauna Saara, which translates to the BJP's slogan is to eradicate drugs completely. The leadership emphasized that the campaign is intended to confront what they describe as a grave threat to the culture and courage of the land of the Gurus.

During the press conference, party leaders outlined a timeline for the eradication of the drug menace, pledging to eliminate the crisis within two years of assuming power in the state. When questioned about the feasibility of this commitment given previous unfulfilled promises by other political entities, Kewal Singh Dhillon pointed to the central government's record. He cited the removal of Section 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the efforts against Naxalism as evidence of the party's capability to deliver on difficult policy objectives.

The campaign is structured into four distinct yatras, each designed to traverse specific regions of Punjab. The first yatra, flagged off by BJP national president Nitin Nabin, will begin on September 18 from Ekta Sthal at Madhopur in Sujanpur, Pathankot. This route will cover 34 assembly constituencies, including districts such as Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Ferozepur. The second yatra commences on September 19 from Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, passing through 24 constituencies across regions including Ludhiana, Mohali, and Hoshiarpur.

The third yatra is scheduled to start on September 20 from the Sadiqi Border, specifically the 1971 War Memorial in Fazilka, covering 22 constituencies in the southwestern part of the state. The final yatra will begin on September 21 from Gurdwara Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, traversing 23 constituencies across Bathinda, Mansa, and Patiala. All four routes are set to conclude in Jalandhar, where the campaign will reach its climax on September 30 with a public address by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

BJP leadership utilized the campaign announcement to criticize the current administration's approach to drug control. Manpreet Singh Badal argued that the state government has focused disproportionately on registering FIRs and arresting individual users, a strategy he claimed has backfired by neglecting the necessity of rehabilitation. He emphasized that the party intends to shift the focus toward dismantling the commercial infrastructure of the drug trade, which he asserted the current government has failed to address effectively.

Sunil Jakhar added that the drug crisis is intrinsically linked to broader societal issues, including rising crime, gang-related violence, and the severe financial strain placed on families. He noted that many households have been forced into debt or compelled to sell land and other assets to fund treatment for family members struggling with addiction. Ashwani Sharma described the yatra as a mahayagya, or a great ritual, intended to cleanse the state, and issued an appeal for citizens to participate in the movement.

A significant component of the planned campaign involves direct engagement with families affected by the drug crisis. BJP leaders stated that during the course of the yatras, they intend to meet with families who have lost members to drug-related causes. This outreach is intended to personalize the campaign and highlight the human cost of the ongoing crisis, which the party argues has been exacerbated by the current administration's policy failures.

The party's focus on the death of the Dalit villager serves as a backdrop to these efforts, underscoring the political sensitivity surrounding the issue of drug supply in the state. By integrating these personal narratives into their broader political platform, the BJP aims to mobilize public sentiment against the incumbent government ahead of the 2027 polls. The campaign's success will depend on its ability to transition from a political rally format to the mass movement that party leaders have described.