Jalandhar: When Sukhbir Badal was re-elected as the president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) after facing religious censure, he primarily focused on two issues – SAD’s contribution in Sikh history and Punjab and lashing out at its once close ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for weakening the Sikh religious institutions and the Akalis. 

Sukhbir Badal was unanimously re-elected as SAD president on April 12, 2025, at the jam packed Teja Singh Samundri Hall in Amritsar, where the SGPC headquarters is situated within the Golden Temple Complex. While the Badal family’s dominance over the party was intact, questions are being raised whether SAD under Sukhbir Badal would manage to make a comeback or not.

Sukhbir was declared ‘Tankhiaya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs for mistakes committed by his party between 2007 to 2017 on November 16, 2024. 

Sukhbir made an impassioned appeal to people with statements like “Punjab da asli waris SAD hai, Qaum ate Punjab di apni jathebandi hai SAD (Punjab’s real successor was SAD, SAD was the party of the Sikh community and Punjab). SAD is not a party of any leader,” and questioned Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for its failure in running the state. 

Apart from this, the SAD president cornered the BJP for its attempts to control the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), weakening the SAD and meddling with the Sikh religious affairs – an issue he has been raising for the past some time now.

‘Conspiracy to finish SAD’

In his speech, Sukhbir pointed out that during the past six months, a major conspiracy was being hatched to finish the SAD. 

He was pointing at SAD rebel group’s politics, the recent crisis within the SGPC and the Akal Takht over declaring him "tankhaiya", parallel membership drive of the party and changing the jathedars of three Sikh takhts, namely the Sri Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar, Sri Damdama Sahib in Bathinda and Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib.

“Till the time we were in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), we never let them undermine the dignity of any party. We did not let the NDA do injustice with any party and stood for Sikh issues. This conspiracy started when we left the alliance of the BJP against the three farm laws for the sake of our farmers,” he said.

Also read: Akali Dal Rebels ‘Atone’ for Four Major ‘Mistakes’ That Led to Party's Political Downfall

Taking a swipe at the BJP and the SAD rebel group, the now disbanded ‘Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar’, Sukhbir Badal said that when they left the NDA, the Union government decided that if there was any danger in Punjab, it was SAD. “They decided to finish the Akali leadership and bring such people who were close to them,” he added. 

The SAD president said that to attack the ‘Qoum’ or Sikh community, they first changed the act of Takht Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, took control of Takht Sri Patna Sahib in Bihar and constituted a separate committee in Haryana. 

“They controlled the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and tried to control the SGPC too. The Centre tried to control the SGPC twice but our members fought and saved it,” he said. 

“I congratulate the SGPC for fighting against it and saving the SGPC, for freeing the takhts from the clutches of the anti-Sikh forces and bringing the jathedars of the takhts under their control,” he added.

Further, he also attacked the BJP for bringing the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, and demanded the repeal of the amendments. 

SAD’s lone MP in the Lok Sabha, Harsimrat Kaur, who is the wife of Sukhbir Badal, had vociferously spoken against the Waqf bill and termed the saffron party as the real ‘Tukde Tukde gang’ for dividing the minorities. 

It is pertinent to mention here that SAD’s working committee had accepted Sukhbir Badal’s resignation on January 10, 2025. 

He had first become the president of SAD in December 2008, when Parkash Singh Badal was the chief minister of Punjab. The Badal family has been leading SAD’s command since 1995.

A major reason behind Sukhbir’s downfall since 2017 was his government’s failure in solving 2015 sacrilege case, Behbal Kalan firing incident, revocation of blasphemy case against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for imitating Guru Gobind Singh in 2007, appointing controversial IPS officer Sumedh Singh Saini as Punjab DGP, giving assembly election ticket to Farzana Alam, the wife of another controversial IPS officer Izhar Alam and not providing justice to victims in fake encounter cases.

Opposition over Sukhbir’s re-election

Among those who questioned Sukhbir Badal’s re-election was former Akal Takht head Giani Harpreet Singh who said that this election was held for the post of president of SAD “bhagoda dal”(fugitive group), and not the original SAD. 

“The election was held in a non-democratic way. Sikhs around the world do not want to deal with the Badal group”, he said.

Giani Harpreet Singh, who was unceremoniously removed as Jathedar of Takth Damdama Sahib on February 10, 2025, following an investigation by SGPC executive committee in an 18-year-old case, asked, “If they could not perform in the last 15 years, that too when they had deep friendly ties with the BJP, do you think they will do it now?”

Notably, in his address, Sukhbir Badal had urged those who had parted ways with the SAD to return to the party fold. The Akal Takht too had directed the SAD leaders to come under the party fold on December 2, 2024, when Sukhbir was declared guilty of religious misconduct.

Also read: Akal Takht Declares SAD Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal ‘Tankhaiya'. What Happens to His Party?

Similarly, reacting to Sukhbir’s re-election as SAD president, SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, who was leading the now disbanded Akali Dal-Sudhar Lehar, the SAD rebel group, said, “We are not under any person. We are under the Akal Takht. Sukhbir can mislead people as much as he wants but cannot befool them.” 

Talking to The Wire, Bibi Jagir Kaur said that it is not them but Sukhbir Badal who was a rebel. 

“He went against the December 2, 2024, orders of the Akal Takht. Sukhbir just wants SAD leadership; we are concerned about the dignity of Akal Takht. If we will not follow the panthic orders then who will? Those who are committed to the Akal Takht will remain with us,” she said.

She emphasised that the SGPC was formed for the protection and spread of Sikhism. “Only those who follow the Sri Akal Takht Sahib would be considered a real Akali.”

Raising questions over Sukhbir’s leadership, the former SGPC chief said that he was made SAD president in 2008 by sidelining many deserving leaders just because he was the son of ex-CM Parkash Singh Badal.

“It was Sukhbir’s responsibility to strengthen his hold in the party. We are not responsible for his downfall. Sadly, he is not willing to understand the mood of the public. Nobody is with him,” she said.

Bibi Jagir Kaur claimed that Sukhbir Badal had ruined what little was left of the SAD. “We have started a membership drive and will revive a ‘Panth Parvaan Party’,  formed on the principles of the Sikh Panth. It will take around six months,” she said, adding that Sukhbir should not even think that he will get successful. 

“Their misconceptions will get clear in the coming days”, she maintained. 

BJP Punjab slams SAD leadership

Interestingly, while the saffron party was yet to respond to Sukhbir Badal’s allegations, BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar posted a video on X and asked SAD to first look at its own mistakes and then cast aspersions on others. 

“You are yet to answer the public, then seek answers from others. Before raising a finger at the BJP, it will be better to look at your mistakes,” he said. 

Jakhar also mentioned that Sukhbir Badal was acting as if they were all set to win the 2027 assembly elections. “But you are far away from that chair,” he said, as if reminding the SAD leadership.

SAD leaders still support Sukhbir

SAD vice president Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, who had quit the party along with his father veteran leader Ranjit Singh Brahmpura in 2018 over sacrilege cases came in the support of Sukhbir Badal. Brahmpura had formed their own party SAD (Sanyukt) but rejoined SAD in 2021.

He questioned Giani Harpreet Singh for remaining silent when he was heading the Akal Takht as the officiating chief. 

“Why did he not declare Sukhbir a deserter then? You are misleading the Sikh community,” he said.

Brahmpura warned Harpreet Singh to avoid getting played in the hands of the agencies. “You are dancing to the tunes of the opposition and raising fingers at Sukhbir Badal,” he said. 

‘People will remain followers of SAD, not that of a leader’

Speaking to The Wire, Chandigarh-based political commentator Khalid Mohammad said that the re-election of Sukhbir Badal was held on the directions of the SGPC and the Akal Takht. However, no other person contested the polls against him. 

“The SAD delegates who were recently elected by the party members during its organisational polls unanimously re-elected Sukhbir Badal as party president. So, somewhere people will have to accept the SAD president but by not letting anybody contest the election, the party has shown that they are spineless”, he said. 

On whether SAD under Sukhbir Badal will make a comeback, Khalid said that it might be an uphill task but Sukhbir knows that he will face resistance and challenges. 

“The way Harsimrat Kaur Badal protested the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the BJP in the parliament, the future line of SAD is clear. Sukhbir is clear with one thing that by joining hands with the BJP, they can remain in power but internally, the party’s base has eroded,” he said. 

When asked about the SAD rebel group’s stand, Khalid said that most of them do not have a base, they were only leaders. 

“People will remain followers of SAD and not that of a leader. If the rebels will still go their own way or form a new political outfit, will they not be going against the order of the Akal Takht?” he asked.

“Sukhbir also knows that if they become part of a national party, they cannot talk about state autonomy, whereas SAD has always talked about federalism,” he added. 

Khalid maintained that SAD’s revival is very important for Punjab and the national politics as it is only the regional parties which are going to talk about state autonomy. 

‘SAD will remain relevant’

Political analyst, Malvinder Mali, who served with the longest serving ex-SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra and former Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh, emphasised that SAD will always remain relevant in Punjab politics but the way certain developments took place recently hints at a difficult path ahead for Sukhbir Badal. 

Mali said that it is for the first time in history that the three jathedar including that of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, who issued the Hukamnama (edict) against Sukhbir Badal and punished him for his mistakes, were removed from their posts. 

“Not only were they removed, their image was tarnished too,” Mali pointed out.

“Till date, whoever has been declared tankhaiya, whether it was ex-President of India Giani Zail Singh, ex-Union home minister Buta Singh, the stalwart of Sikh history Master Tara Singh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh or others, had agreed to the punishment of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Nobody challenged or defied its orders. The Badals’ did injustice with the Akal Takht and reduced the party to a gang,” he said.   

“It is out of question to think that the SAD will revive under Sukhbir Badal’s command. Moreover, by declaring him a tankhaiya, the Akal Takht has basically negated SAD’s 20 to 25 years of politics,” he added.

To a query regarding if in the light of Sukhbir Badal’s allegations that BJP was meddling with Sikh affairs, the two come along smoothly, Mali said, “The Akalis have no issue with the BJP. However, they will not be coming together any time soon.” 

He added, “It has always been the policy of the Union government to create more and more confusion in Punjab as they know that Punjab’s power is immense. They have seen it during the farmer's protest at Delhi.”

On being asked how SAD would revive, when AAP has already taken over its space, Mali said that it would not be easy for AAP either. After losing Delhi elections, the Delhi leadership is roaming in Punjab and facing protests, he said.

“The way the AAP leadership betrayed the farmers, removed them from Shambu and Khanauri borders and looted their tractors and belongings, they will not be able to gain ground now. The farmers have started boycotting the AAP leaders from entering their villages, hinting at more problems for the party ahead,” he added.

‘SAD party’s cadre intact’

Responding to these allegations, SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said that the rebel group’s task, in sync with the BJP-RSS and the Congress, was to weaken the SAD, terminate its recognition and the party symbol of a ‘scale’. 

“The rebels and various SAD factions have been doing this for a long time. Neither they have a party nor any standing to claim that their membership was genuine. It is difficult to make them happy,” Cheema told The Wire.

He said that SAD’s recent Baisakhi rally at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda was proof of the party's cadre and its strength. 

“The party is together and SAD’s cadre is strong. Very soon we are going to start a party's mass contact program in the state. SAD party leadership was geared up to reach out to everybody in the coming days,” he said, adding that the SAD has enrolled 27.5 lakh members during its fresh membership drive. 

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