Taking the Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) ‘atta-dal’ scheme a step further, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led, cash-crunched Punjab government is now mulling another freebie by adding dal, tea leaves, sugar, mustard oil and turmeric to it next year, penultimate to the 2027 Assembly elections, with wheat already being given to the beneficiary families.

Sources in the government said that the final nod was awaited from AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal before the scheme is set to roll out. Kejriwal is visiting Punjab on Friday. “We are just waiting for his nod now. Once he okays the scheme, we will start it,” said a source.

The government wants to start the doles from April 2026. Before the elections, the government plans to give these commodities quarterly next year. “It would be started f

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