Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday convened its first core committee meeting following the release of senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia, with the party leadership focusing on political strategy and efforts to reunite splintered Akali factions.
The meeting is being held at the party’s Chandigarh headquarters under the chairmanship of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Majithia, who was released from jail after seven months, is participating in the meeting, according to party sources.
A day earlier, Majithia had said he would work towards uniting both Akali factions. Senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema said the party’s working committee had already passed a resolution in this regard and expressed hope that all Akali leaders would come together in the larger interest of the party.
Ahead of the core committee meeting, Majithia once again reiterated his call for unity among dissident leaders. He thanked those who had welcomed his initiative and said several leaders, including Prem Singh Chandumajra, had publicly supported the move. Majithia also said he had received encouragement from party president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
During his interaction with the media, Majithia launched a sharp attack on Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, alleging that law and order in the state was deteriorating. He accused the DGP of focusing on pleasing Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann instead of addressing public safety concerns.
Majithia further said that if anything were to happen to him, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav would be directly responsible.
Details of the meeting were shared earlier through a social media post by senior SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema. In a post on X, he said the core committee meeting was scheduled for 11 am at the party’s Chandigarh office to discuss the prevailing political situation in Punjab and to formulate the party’s future course of action.
The meeting is being seen as politically significant amid internal churn within the Akali Dal and ongoing efforts to consolidate the party ahead of upcoming electoral challenges.
