CHANDIGARH, Nov 16:
Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had been declared ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht, tendered his resignation on Saturday as the Shiromani Akali Dal president, a position he held since 2008.
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Badal’s resignation paves the way for the election of the new party chief.
The resignation of Badal (62), who is the son of five-time Punjab Chief Minister late Parkash Singh Badal, came amid vociferous demand by several rebel party leaders including former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur who wanted him to step down for the party’s consistent dismal performance in the state assembly as well as parliamentary elections.
Badal submitted his resignation to the party’s working committee, said party leader Daljit Singh Cheema.
“The SAD president 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 said in a post on X.
Cheema further said that the elections of Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) office bearers are due on December 14 and Badal will complete his five-year term next month.
The party’s working committee will hold a meeting on November 18 to discuss the resignation and ensuing party’s elections including new membership drive, appointments of circle delegates and state delegates, he said, adding that last elections were held on December 14, 2019.
Badal, the former deputy chief Minister, was the youngest chief of SAD, when he was elevated to the post in 2008.
He was often credited for the party’s victory in 2012 assembly polls, but his leadership came under scanner by own party leaders after the SAD could win just 15 of total 117 seats in 2017 and finally relegated to three seats in the 2022 polls.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it could win only one seat out of total 13 parliamentary constituencies.
Reacting to the development, ‘Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar’ convener Gurpartap Singh Wadal welcomed the move but dubbed it as overdue.
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).
He had appealed for convening a meeting of five ‘Singh Sahibans’ (Sikh clergy) soon to pronounce ‘tankhah’.
On August 30, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had 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 being declared ‘tankhaiya’, Badal had not been keeping himself away from political and social engagements.(PTI)
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