Chandigarh: In a significant development in Punjab politics, senior leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal has resigned as president of the party. The development has prompted the SAD high command to call an emergency meeting of the Working Committee on November 18.
The development was announced by senior SAD leader Dr Daljit S Cheema in a post on X.
“The SAD President S Sukhbir Singh Badal submitted his resignation to the working Committee of the party today to pave the way for the election of new President. He thanked all the party leaders & workers for expressing confidence in his leadership and extending wholehearted support & cooperation throughout the tenure,” Cheema wrote in a post on X.
The SAD leader further informed that an emergency meeting of the SAD Working Committee has been called on November 18 to decide the future course of action over Badal's resignation as party president.
“SAD Working Committee President S Balwinder S Bhundar has called an emergency meeting of the Working Committee of the party on November 18 at 12 o’ clock at the party headquarters office in Chandigarh. The committee will consider the resignation submitted by S Sukhbir S Badal & will decide further course of action. It may be mentioned that elections for the post of President, Office bearers & working committee of SAD are due on Dec 14, 2024 when the five year term of present house expires,” he wrote in a post.
Who is next?
After Badal's resignation, all eyes are on the new president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, the major party in Punjab. For now, Balwinder Singh Bhundar is the working president of Shiromani Akali Dal.
Akal Takht Sahib's reprimand
It can be recalled that in August, the Akal Takht, one of the five major religious seats of Sikhs, declared Badal as a 'Tankhaiya' a significant term referring to the alleged religious misconduct during the SAD's tenure in power in the past.
Badal’s resignation came days after he urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to pronounce his punishment for religious misconduct charges, saying more than two months have passed since he was declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct).
On August 30, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh declared Badal 'tankhaiya' for "mistakes" committed by the SAD and its government from 2007 to 2017.
The jathedar is yet to pronounce 'tankhah' (religious punishment) for Badal. After Badal failed to get any temporary relief from the Akal Takht, the SAD announced on October 24 that it would not contest the bypolls.
On July 1, rebel SAD leaders, including former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra and ex-Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, appeared before the Akal Takht and sought forgiveness for the "mistakes" committed by the party's government between 2007 and 2017.
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