Revolt in SAD: The Rebels

Since SAD was ousted from power in Panjab in 2017, its president, Sukhbir Singh Badal, has been facing dissension in the party. Three weeks after the SAD’s debacle in the general elections, the discontent in the party flared up on 25 Jun. Senior party leaders – Prem Singh Chandumajra, Sikander Singh Maluka, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, and former SGPC president Jagir Kaur – raised a banner of revolt against Badal, passing a resolution seeking his resignation. Expressing concern that SAD’s core base has drifted away during Badal’s presidency, they passed a resolution asking him to hand over the party reins in the spirit of tyag (sacrifice) to someone ‘who can maintain a balance between religion and politics.’ There is also a demand that the head of the party should not be the chief minister candidate in Panjab. They rejected Badal’s apology to the community on Akali Dal’s 103^rd Foundation Day 14 Dec 2023 as not being according to vidhi-vidhan (rites and rules) and Panthic maryada (Sikh codes and conventions) and was also not sought at the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, the Akal Takht. The premises of the SAD rebels’ huddle belonged to Barjinder Singh Hamdard of the Ajit group of newspapers which has triggered a buzz about Hamdard’s possible role in the unfolding developments. The leaders announced the Akali Dal Bachao Muhim (Save Akali Dal campaign) to reconnect with those Sikhs who they believe have stopped supporting the party under Badal’s leadership. The rebel Akali leaders formally apologized at the Akal Takht on 1 Jul.