January 10th 2025.
Chandigarh: On Friday, the Shiromani Akali Dal's working committee made the decision to accept Sukhbir Singh Badal's resignation as party chief. This comes after the Akal Takht Jathedar urged them to follow through on the religious body's December 2 ruling as soon as possible.
With Badal's resignation now accepted, the way is open for the election of a new party chief. The working committee also announced plans to launch a membership drive on January 20 and hold elections for the new president on March 1.
On January 6, the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Raghbir Singh, had emphasized the importance of implementing the edict without delay, specifically mentioning the need to accept Badal's resignation as party chief.
Last year on December 2, the Akal Takht had issued a religious punishment for Badal and other leaders, citing "mistakes" made by the party and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. In addition to this, they also directed the working committee to accept Badal's resignation as well as the resignations of other leaders.
Despite undergoing religious punishment, Badal's resignation was not accepted by the working committee which he had submitted in November of last year.
In a statement to the press after his resignation was accepted, Badal expressed his gratitude towards the party workers and leaders for their support. He reflected on his five years as party chief and thanked those who stood by him.
"Now that five years have passed, I had made the decision to approach the Akal Takht Sahib as a humble Sikh. However, due to certain reasons, this was not accepted. I urge the working committee to begin a new membership drive and subsequently elect a new president." Badal said.
Badal had initially submitted his resignation as party chief on November 16 of last year, but it was not accepted by the working committee. They had requested him to reconsider, threatening to resign en masse if he did not. However, in the meeting on Friday, the committee accepted his resignation at his request.
Senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema, who addressed the media, stated that Badal had attended the meeting as his resignation was still pending. He had requested for it to be accepted, which was ultimately granted by the working committee.
Cheema also announced plans to begin the party's membership drive on January 20, which will continue until February 20. SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar has been given the authority to make major decisions for the party during this time, including the upcoming election for the party president on March 1.
During a meeting on January 8, a delegation from SAD had met with the Akal Takht Jathedar in Amritsar to discuss the legal obstacles the party was facing in implementing the directive to form a seven-member committee for holding organizational elections.
The party had previously informed the Jathedar that this reorganization process could result in the loss of their recognition from the Election Commission of India as a political party, as parties are required to operate in a secular manner and not according to the instructions of a religious body.
In the December 2 edict, the Akal Takht had formed a seven-member committee to begin the membership drive and hold elections for the party president and other office-bearers within six months.
Badal was declared "tankhaiya" (excommunicated) by the Akal Takht on August 30 last year. He had undergone religious punishment.
Badal, who previously served as deputy chief minister, was the youngest party chief when he was appointed in 2008. He was credited for the party's victory in the 2012 assembly polls, but his leadership was called into question by his own party members after their disappointing performance in the 2017 elections, and ultimately only securing three seats in the 2022 polls.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, SAD only won one out of the 13 parliamentary constituencies.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
