3 months after okaying of resignation, Sukhbir Badal back as Shiromani Akali Dal chief

Amritsar: Over three months after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) accepted the resignation of former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal as party president, he was on Saturday unanimously elected again to the post at the delegates' session of the party held at the Teja Singh Samundri Hall in Amritsar on Saturday. After his election, he appealed for "broader Panthic unity" and return of those who had parted ways with the SAD.
Sukhbir's name was proposed by senior party leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder and was seconded by Paramjit Singh Sarna, former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.
The delegates did not propose the name of any other candidate, following which party chief election officer Gulzar Singh Ranike proclaimed Sukhbir as the new party president amidst slogans of "Bole so Nihal, Sat Sri Akal". The delegates also authorised him to constitute the party's new working committee.
Sukhbir had stepped down from the party post on Nov 16, 2024, after he was declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht for "mistakes" committed by the SAD govt and its ministers during its tenure from 2007 to 2017. However, the working committee of the party had only accepted his resignation on Jan 10, 2025.
Addressing the delegates after his election, Sukhbir said he would never compromise on any issue which concerns the prestige of the Khalsa Panth, Punjab, and appealed for broader Panthic unity. He also urged all those who had left SAD due to some grievance to rejoin the Panthic mainstream under the Akali banner.
Badal also alluded to an alleged conspiracy to finish off SAD as well as its leadership. "This conspiracy first started when the SAD left the NDA to express its solidarity with the farmers who were agitating against the three farm bills and accelerated during the last six months...The managements of Sri Hazur Sahib and Patna Sahib Boards were expanded to take them under government control. The Centre also took over the DSGMC by inducting its leaders into the BJP besides bringing a new gurdwara committee for Haryana."
Sukhbir said it was most unfortunate that even the decisions of the "quom" were manipulated by such forces."
Sukhbir Badal first took over as SAD chief in 2008, succeeding his father and party patriarch Prakash Singh Badal. He continued on the post after that until his resignation.
‘We will bring back industry'
Giving a clarion call to the delegates to prepare for bringing the SAD back to power in 2027, Sukhbir said, "I assure you that the next SAD govt will preside over the eradication of the gangster culture and drug mafia, which is being patronised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt." He also announced that SAD was committed to all-round development. "We will bring back industry in the state. We will ensure all sections of society, be it farmers or the weaker sections, get their due. I am committed to making Punjab the number one state in the country."
Badal Senior's ‘barsi' to held in Lambi
The ‘barsi' (death anniversary) ceremony of former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal would be held in Lambi on April 25. Akhand Paath and Bhog will also be conducted at all district headquarters in Punjab as well in Haryana and Delhi.
Resolutions Passed
* The SAD condemned handing over constitutional powers by the Punjab govt to AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and his team, and said it was shocking that "these people, who are out on bail in corruption cases, were checking govt files".
* The party condemned the total collapse of law and order in the state and expressed serious concern at grenade attacks on police stations, vandalism of statues of Babasaheb BR Ambedkar, and desecration of temples.
*The SAD demanded the immediate release of Bandi Singhs as per the commitment made by the central govt and said the death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana should be commuted to life without any further delay.
*It urged all political parties to join hands to pressurise the Centre to implement a genuine federal structure.
*Demanded Punjabi-speaking areas of Haryana and the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and condemned attempts to retain it as a permanent UT. It also wants Punjabi language to be given its due in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and other areas where the Punjabi-speaking community resided.
* Condemned direct interference in the religious affairs of the Sikh community and blamed BJP and AAP for creation of separate gurdwara management committee in Haryana. The SAD also condemned recent amendments made in the Waqf Board and demanded their repeal.