A significant and controversial reshuffle has rocked the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as the party expelled eight senior leaders, who have rebelled against the party, from its ranks on Tuesday. The dramatic and bold move, announced by the party’s disciplinary committee, came in response to allegations of anti-party activities that have been simmering since the recent Lok Sabha election results.
SAD’s disciplinary committee, led by senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhundur, convened a critical meeting on Tuesday, where the party's internal discord reached a boiling point. The committee’s decisive decision to expel former MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala, former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, former Minister Sikander Singh Maluka, former Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, Surinder Singh Thekedar, and Charanjit Singh Brar has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Punjab.
The sweeping action came on the heels of increasing unrest within the party, particularly following the recent Lok Sabha election results. The expelled leaders had been vocal critics of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal and had been accused of engaging in activities that directly contravened party discipline. The decision underscored the party’s intolerance for dissent and signaled a stern warning to other potential dissidents.
The party's disciplinary committee, which also included Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Gulzar Singh Ranike (who participated in the meeting telephonically), condemned the expelled leaders for their alleged role in fostering divisions within the party.
Bhundur said that these leaders had “actively colluded with the party’s enemies to create internal strife and weaken the party”. He further accused them of a deliberate attempt to tarnish the party's image through “widespread and coordinated efforts”.
The committee had previously given these leaders an opportunity to address their grievances within the party framework, specifically during the Working Committee meeting held on June 26. Despite this, the expelled leaders chose to take their dissent to the media, which the party interpreted as a lack of faith in the organizational structure and a deliberate attempt to undermine its stability.
The tension stemmed from the longstanding internal disputes that became particularly evident after the Lok Sabha elections. Despite SAD securing only the Bathinda seat, won by Harsimrat Kaur, the wife of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, calls for his resignation have intensified since then.
The internal discord became public during the Jalandhar West by-election when the party supported a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate, leading to a candidate withdrawal controversy. The dissident group announced their intention to contest under the traditional ‘takdi’ (scales) symbol, but the party ultimately faced a resounding defeat in the election.
Shake-Up at the Grassroots
In addition to the expulsions, the SAD has also removed seven halqa (constituency) in-charges from their posts. These constituencies include Nakodar, Bholath, Ghanuar, Sanour, Samana, Garhshankar, and Rajpura. The removal of these key figures further illustrates the extent of the party’s crackdown on dissent and its resolve to consolidate control over its grassroots operations. Bhundur emphasized that the party’s commitment to discipline is non-negotiable, stating, “Such acts of indiscipline cannot be tolerated in any manner whatsoever. The disciplinary committee took a unanimous decision to expel them from the party with immediate effect.”
Defiant Voices
In the wake of their expulsion, the ousted leaders have expressed defiant reactions. Bibi Jagir Kaur, a former Cabinet Minister and former president of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) among the expelled, asserted her lifelong allegiance to the Akali Dal, claiming, “I was born into the Akali Dal and will die in it. What they call discipline, I see as a breach of it. This is not a party, but a company run by a few people.” Charanjit Singh Brar, another expelled leader and once a close aide of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, defended his actions, stating, “I have not violated any rules. My intention was to offer constructive suggestions for the party’s improvement. I had no intention of undermining the party. I plead with them to save the party, for if the party survives, so will the family.”
Amid the growing unrest within the Akali Dal, a faction of senior dissenting leaders has all along been pushing for a major overhaul, also launching the ‘Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar’ (SAD Reform Movement). As a part of this reform initiative, Wadala was appointed as the convener, while former MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa was named its patron. Besides, a new committee would be set up to ensure that decisions are made with unanimous consent.
The rebel group has also been pushing for the resignation of party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, arguing that the recent electoral setbacks and internal discord underscored the urgent need for revitalization and a return to the party’s core values. Their reform initiative includes honouring the Sikh community leaders and addressing longstanding grievances, aiming to reestablish SAD’s strength and unity.
