The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is currently facing internal turmoil as senior leaders, including Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Bibi Jagir Kaur, have initiated a revolt against the party chief, Sukhbir Singh Badal. They are calling for a change in leadership following the party’s poor performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Out of 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab, the SAD managed to secure only one, with Badal’s wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, retaining the Bathinda seat.
Rebel leader Parminder Singh Dhindsa held a meeting in Jalandhar where party workers and senior leaders voiced their concerns and expressed the need to revive the party.
Former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur echoed this sentiment, saying that their attempts to communicate with Badal were futile.
According to former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur, whenever they tried to discuss anything with Badal, he did not listen to them.
Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema addressing a press conference yesterday said that the SAD is analysing and introspecting the remarks.
“In a democracy, there is always a difference of opinion. If one or two people have a difference of opinion, then it is not a revolt. but there is a system. Party analysis and introspection are still going on.”
Cheema said that a working committee meeting of the party will be held today.
“If you express your opinion before the meeting, then that becomes doubtful. It looks preplanned. It looks as if you are not interested in the improvement or upliftment of the party and you said something just because you wanted to. Otherwise, there was a need to wait. They should have participated and listened to what others had to say. After that, they could have presented their views,” Cheema said.
SAD party’s core committee member, Balwinder Singh Bhundal, who held another meeting to support Sukhbir Singh Badal, said that 99 per cent of the members are standing with him.
“The way the workers have attended today’s meeting shows that 99 per cent of the Akali Dal members are standing with the party chief, Sukhbir Singh Badal. The party chief is not changed at the behest of a few people,” Bhundal said.
Bhundal further said there was no question of forming any alliance with the BJP in the future.
“Neither now nor in the future will we make any compromise with the BJP. We will not take any action against those who are trying to show their solidarity by separating from the party. Our elders have built this party by making sacrifices. There is no need to separate those who are already talking about separating from the party or going outside. It is their own wish and freedom,” he the senior Akali Dal leader said.
(with inputs from ANI)