Dhindsa makes gharwapsi, merges party with Badals

Earlier, Sukhbir visited the Dhindsa’s residence in Chandigarh along with senior leaders of the party including those from Sangrur district. Welcoming Dhindsa in the SAD fold, Sukhbir called it “a historic day” for the party.

“Our senior leader Dhindsaji is back in the party fold with his entire team. My father Parkash Singh Badal served the Akali Dal for more than 70 years and Dhindsaji and many others were in his team. Now, Dhindsaji is the most senior, and I urge him to play the role of patron of the party like Badal Saab. Some differences had separated us, but now the two families are together. Akali Dal has to be strengthened if we are to save Punjab,” Sukhbir said.

“I appeal to all those who had left Akali Dal for some reason, please return and strengthen the only regional party of Punjabis. I apologise with folded hands if any mistake had happened from my side,” Sukhbir said.

Urging Bibi Jagir Kaur, former president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), who was expelled from by the Akali Dal for “anti-party activities”, Badal said, “I appeal to Bibi Jagir Kaur as well to please join the party and strengthen it in order to save Punjab.”

Formed in July 2020, the SAD (Sanyukt) contested the 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections in alliance with the BJP. Asked about the SAD alliance with the BJP, Sukhbir evaded the question saying, “I think media is worried about the alliance more than we.”

Dhindsa said, “The day Sukhbir Badal apologised before Akal Takht, we formed a five-member committee and took feedback from people across Punjab and the majority suggested that we should unite. I spoke with my party’s senior leaders and they authorised that whatever decision I take will be acceptable to them.”

, “We had differences in the past, but now we are together again. We will sit together and make decisions. The situation is different now and if we have to save Punjab, we will have to stay united,” Dhindsa added.

Welcoming the merger, Bibi Jagir Kaur told reporters in Bholath, “It’s good that Dhindsaji’s party merged with Akali Dal. It will add strength to the party.”

Asked whether she would return to the SAD, she said, “I never left the party, but they had expelled me. I always speak about the panthic values in Akali Dal. Everyone should be listened to; it will keep the party united.”

Reacting to the merger, Patiala MP Parneet Kaur, the wife of senior BJP leader Capt Amarinder Singh, said, “One and one make two. So, with each other’s support, strength is built.”

About the BJP and the SAD alliance, she said, “I feel an alliance adds more strength to the party. Even Capt Amarinder Singh has been advocating for this alliance. He even sought an early solution to the farmers’ demands. He is always for the welfare of Punjab.”

Leaders of the Akali Dal and the SAD (Sanyukt), including Parminder Singh Dhindsa, former finance minister of Punjab and son of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, were present on the occasion. “I am thankful to Parminder for making this merger happen. I assure you that all will be given their due respect in the party,” Sukhbir said. Sukhbir and Dhindsa said the way the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was governing the state, it was high time to strengthen the regional party to save Punjab.

In September 2018, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, a former Rajya Sabha MP, resigned from all designations of the Akali Dal owing to his differences with the leadership on the sacrilege issue and poor performance in the 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections. He even questioned the leadership of Sukhbir as the party president.

In February 2020, Dhindsa and his son Parminder were expelled from the party and in July 2020.