Chandigarh: The political rivalry in Punjab has escalated as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, and a newly emerged faction under Giani Harpreet Singh enter a heated dispute over the party’s name and its traditional election symbol, the ‘Takri’ (weighing scale).
Senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema issued a firm warning to the breakaway group, stressing that “no one else can use the party’s name or emblem” and vowing strict legal action against any such attempt.
Countering the threat, faction leader Charanjit Singh Barad maintained that his group is not a new party but the legitimate Shiromani Akali Dal, having elected its president in line with the party constitution.
“We are the real Shiromani Akali Dal and will claim both the name and the symbol. If this requires a legal battle, we are fully prepared for it,” Barad asserted, setting the stage for a courtroom showdown.
The dispute marks another chapter in Punjab’s fragmented Akali politics, with the battle over the ‘Takri’ symbol likely to be closely watched ahead of the next elections.