In a dramatic twist that has set the political stage abuzz, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday took the bold step of dissolving its core committee. The unexpected decision, announced via a terse social media post, came as the SAD grapples with its worst-ever deepening internal crisis and struggles to regain its footing after a series of electoral defeats.
 
The dissolution of the core committee, a key decision-making body within the SAD, reflected the growing internal turmoil within the party. The move followed a series of setbacks in the recent Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, which have ignited a fierce rebellion among the party members.
 
With prominent figures like former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, former Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, and former Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka — who have openly criticized party president Sukhbir Singh Badal — now sidelined, the party is poised on the edge of a significant overhaul. The fate of SAD’s leadership and its strategic direction now hangs in the balance as the party attempts to navigate this turbulent period.
 
SAD has faced considerable turmoil following its poor showings in the last two assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Internal discord has been exacerbated by the party’s electoral strategy, which saw it part ways with the BJP and contest the recent elections independently. The decision to break from the alliance did not yield the expected results, with the SAD securing only one seat in the Lok Sabha from Bathinda, won by Sukhbir Badal’s wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
 
The core committee, which has been disbanded, included notable dissenters who had been vocal in their opposition to Sukhbir’s leadership. The internal strife reached a tipping point when the rebellious faction, led by Sukhbir’s close aide Charanjit Singh Brar, demanded a change in leadership and questioned the efficacy of the party’s current organizational structure.
 
Brar expressed frustration over the selective nature of the party’s restructuring, questioning why only the core committee was dissolved while the rebel factions remained intact. “If the party is to be reorganized, why not address the entire rebellious wing?” Brar queried.
 
On the other hand, SAD spokesperson and legal wing head Arshdeep Singh Kaler described the dissolution of the core committee as a “routine procedure” intended to streamline party operations.
 
Following the decision, former Minister and party spokesperson Daljit Cheema said that Sukhbir Badal has been granted the authority to reconstitute the party's organizational structure. The decision followed a meeting with senior leaders in Chandigarh, where discussions also covered the upcoming by-elections to four assembly segments.
 
SAD's recent efforts to resolve internal conflicts included a significant moment on July 1, when the rebellious faction appeared at the Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar — Sikhs’ highest temporal seat — to submit a formal apology. The apology addressed several contentious issues, including controversial decisions made during SAD-led Government, such as the handling of the 2015 Bargari sacrilege case and the appointments of certain individuals to key positions.
 
As the SAD prepares for a possible realignment, the party faces critical by-elections and the challenge of rebuilding its image and support base. The upcoming days will be crucial in determining whether these internal changes will restore stability and bolster the party's performance in future electoral contests.