Punjab: Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has resigned from his position. His resignation was submitted to the party’s working committee and has been confirmed by senior party leader and former minister Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema.
Cheema announced on X that Badal’s resignation aims to facilitate the election of a new party president. He expressed gratitude to the party leaders and workers for their confidence and support during his tenure.
This move follows the Akal Takht’s declaration on August 30 that Badal was ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) due to certain decisions made during his time as deputy chief minister from 2007 to 2017. As a result, he was barred from participating in political events and contesting elections.
In light of this, the Shiromani Akali Dal had previously opted not to contest the bypolls in Punjab. Recently, Badal visited the Sri Akal Takht Sahib Secretariat, submitting a written appeal for a swift decision regarding his punishment. In his letter, he noted that it had been over two and a half months since the declaration, and he had refrained from participating in political activities as per the Akal Takht’s orders. He emphasized the significant challenges facing the Sikh community and Punjab, expressing his inability to take action while restricted from political involvement.
Badal’s resignation marks a pivotal moment for the Shiromani Akali Dal.