A band of senior Shiromani Akali Dal leaders rebelled against Sukhbir Singh Badal to seek the party-president's resignation—a day after the SAD's poor Lok Sabha electoral show.
Addressing a press conference in Jalandhar, the dissident leaders on Sunday announced that a 'SAD bachao' movement would be launched next month. The meeting was held parallel to another rally in Chandigarh where Badal was examining the party's election performance with district presidents and other leaders. The SAD dismissed them as "frustrated elements sponsored by the BJP" and bent upon weakening the party.
The SAD won only one Lok Sabha seat out of the 13 in Punjab during the general elections, with Badal's wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, retaining the Bathinda seat. Its vote share plunged to 13.42 per cent in this election from 27.45 per cent in the 2019 polls, with ten candidates losing their security deposits.
The five-hour meeting ended with the rebels seeking the resignation of Badal. According to former Akali MP Chandumajra, they deliberated on the party's past mistakes and lapses for which it had reached this pass and how to revive the party. For these lapses, they would seek apology at the Akal Takht on July 1 and submit a letter to its office, the top temporal body of Sikhs. On the same day, the 'Shiromani Akali Dal bachao' movement will also be launched.
The resolution adopted in the meeting categorically stated that the leadership of the party is losing touch with the common people resulting in disillusionment. So, there was need for a 'Shiromani Akali Dal bachao lehar' so as to get connected and regain the confidence of the public.
Chandumajra said during question hour, Badal should show 'tyag' considering the sentiments of the party workers. He reiterated that an able leader with strong religious and political understanding was needed.
The Akali Dal accused the "frustrated elements sponsored by the BJP" of trying to weaken the party from within. The SAD district presidents and 'halka' incharges passed resolutions unanimously alleging the BJP and government agencies behind such efforts to weaken or split the party.
Resolutions full of complete trust in the leadership of Badal were adopted. As many as 33 district presidents out of a total of 35 stood by Badal, while 28 of them attended the meeting and five others sent written support. The members have also demanded strict disciplinary action against those found acting against the interests of the party.
Resolutions also praised Badal for his relentless pursuit of interests under pressure and not buckling on various issues related to Sikhs, Punjab, and the party. Badal took examples of adjusting to all, including personal experiences: "But nothing is above the interest of the party. My own family comes only after my party."
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