Chandigarh, April 7: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has called a meeting of its working committee on April 8 at the party headquarters in Chandigarh to finalise the schedule for its general session, where the next president and office-bearers will be elected.
Party leader Daljit Singh Cheema shared the announcement on Sunday through a social media post, stating that working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar would preside over the meeting.
The move follows the party’s internal organisational elections that began on April 2, with district and state delegates elected on April 6.
However, the ongoing election process is being viewed as a direct defiance of the Akal Takht’s December 2 decree, which had appointed a panel to oversee the party’s reorganisation and the election of new leadership within six months.
The party is reportedly wary of complying with the religious body’s directives, fearing it could result in de-recognition by the Election Commission and a loss of its electoral symbol.
In accordance with the Akal Takht’s order, a membership drive began on March 18, led by rebel SAD leaders Manpreet Singh Ayali and Gurpartap Singh Wadala. Over 5 lakh members have been inducted so far, with the drive expected to continue for three months. The campaign may also expand online to include non-resident Punjabis.
Responding to SAD’s decision to proceed with internal elections, Wadala said, “This was expected sooner or later, in a pre-scripted manner. No one is going to accept this decision, and the move will prove detrimental to their interest as a Panthic party. They are getting trapped in their wrongdoing and own cycle of misdemeanour.”
