Amritsar: Punjab’s turbulent Sikh political landscape faces a decisive moment today as a breakaway group from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), backed by the Akal Takht’s five-member Bharti Committee, gathers in Amritsar to elect a new party chief for what they call the “revived” Akali Dal.
The meeting of state delegates at Burj Akali Phoola Singh is being promoted by dissidents as the rebirth of the real SAD, directly challenging the authority of long-serving party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Rebel leaders accuse Sukhbir of steering the once-dominant regional force into electoral decline and ignoring key religious edicts.
Leadership Line-up Taking Shape
On the eve of the meeting, rebel figure Surjit Singh Rakhra suggested that Giani Harpreet Singh, former acting jathedar of the Akal Takht, would lead the political wing, while Bibi Satwant Kaur would head the religious arm, the Panthic Council. Both figures carry strong symbolic and organisational clout, though the Bharti Committee later clarified that such announcements reflect personal opinions, with the final decision to be made by elected delegates.
Committee member Gurpartap Singh Wadala confirmed that selecting the new SAD president is today’s primary agenda, with a formal name and Election Commission registration to follow. He hinted that minor adjustments may be made to the party’s official title, but insisted, “It will be the real Akali Dal.” Wadala maintained that the process follows the Akal Takht’s December 2, 2024, hukamnama, which declared the current leadership to have lost moral authority.
Official SAD Stands Firm
The official SAD, recognised by the Election Commission and still led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, re-elected him as president on April 12 after its membership drive. Sukhbir’s supporters have questioned the rebels’ legal right to use the SAD name, warning of potential legal challenges.
The rebels, however, argue that the Akal Takht’s public pronouncements give them full religious legitimacy, and they point to their membership drive launched on March 18 as evidence of a strong grassroots mandate.
Political and Religious Undercurrents
The split reflects long-simmering frustration with Sukhbir’s leadership. Declared tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct) last year, Sukhbir has overseen a steep decline in SAD’s fortunes, from leading two consecutive coalition governments with the BJP between 2007 and 2017, to securing only three seats in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.
Key rebel figures like Giani Harpreet Singh, who played a pivotal role in the decision declaring Sukhbir tankhaiya, are seen as bringing both religious legitimacy and political credibility to the breakaway camp. Satwant Kaur, an SGPC official and daughter of slain Sikh student leader Amrik Singh, carries deep emotional resonance for many within the Panth.
High Stakes for Punjab’s Political Future
The rift has narrowed the Akal Takht’s original seven-member reorganisation panel to five, following two resignations. The outcome of today’s vote could determine whether the split deepens or whether reconciliation is still possible.
With the rebel bloc claiming over 14 lakh members and a moral mandate, and Sukhbir’s faction retaining the party’s electoral infrastructure, the result could reshape alliances in Punjab, and potentially open the door for a new partnership between the BJP and whichever Akali faction emerges stronger.
Today’s decision may well decide not just the future of SAD but the next chapter of Punjab’s political power balance.
