Former Congress MLA Raminder Singh Awla joins SAD

Ferozepur, October 25, 2026: In a major political development, former Congress MLA Raminder Singh Awla joined the Shiromani Akali Dal today, triggering speculation over a possible contest from the Jalalabad Assembly constituency in the next Punjab Assembly elections.
Awla joined the party in the presence of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Addressing the gathering, he said he was proud that the party President had reposed faith in him to serve the people of Punjab.
Awla’s move is being seen as significant for the politics of the border district of Ferozepur, particularly Jalalabad and Guruharsahai, where he has considerable political influence.
Notably, In October 2019, Awla had won the Jalalabad Assembly bypoll as a Congress candidate, defeating the SAD Candidate Raj Singh Dibbipura with a margin of over 16000 votes in what was considered SAD's stronghold. He remained MLA from October 16, 2019, to March 10, 2022. He also played a key role in strengthening the Congress during the recent municipal council elections in Guruharsahai.
Political circles are abuzz with speculation that Awla may stake a claim to the Jalalabad Assembly seat in the next elections. However, he has not made any official announcement regarding his electoral plans.
Awla had also been in the news recently for contributing Rs 1 crore from his personal funds towards development works in Guruharsahai and handing over the amount to the municipal council president. He had also organised a mass marriage programme for 251 girls, providing them with gifts and household items, which was attended by Bageshwar Dham head Dhirendra Krishna Shastri.
His political move comes amid reports that he had been uncomfortable in the Congress for some time. Speculation about his joining the BJP had also surfaced earlier.
Awla’s father, Dr Harbhajan Singh Awla, had served as the President of the Guruharsahai municipal council for a long time and had been a staunch Congress worker. However during the recent times, Awla's terms with Congress had not been normal. 
Recently, during a public gathering, former Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring had remarked that two tickets would not be given to members of the same family during his tenure as party president. The statement was seen in political circles as being linked to Awla, who was reportedly seeking a ticket for his son, Jatin Awla.
Awla's entry into SAD has also raised questions about the party’s political strategy in the region. It remains to be seen whether he will support senior SAD leader Vardev Singh Noni Mann in Guruharsahai or seek to project his son, Jatin Awla, as a candidate.
Awla’s move is expected to have implications for both the SAD and the Congress in the politically significant border belt, with the electoral picture likely to become clearer in the coming months.