Panel formed by Akal Takht to start SAD membership from March 18

The SAD had already concluded its one-month-long drive on February 20 but Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had not recognised it. Earlier, the SAD had said that it cannot allow the Akal Takht-formed committee to run the membership drive for the party due to technical reasons.

Now the committee that Raghbir Singh formed on December 2 last year will start the membership drive. The committee also has SAD MLA Ayali who had declined to be on the committee that the SAD had formed for the same purpose as it didn’t have the Akal Takht stamp.

The SAD had won three seats in the 2022 Assembly elections. As MLA Sukhwinder Sukhi had joined the AAP last year, the party is left with only two MLAs in the House.

“We are seeking cooperation from Sikh communities and the people of Punjab, who are aligned with Akali ideology and dedicated to Sri Akal Takht Sahib, to ensure the smooth progression of this initiative. This recruitment campaign is not confined to Punjab alone; plans are underway to extend it to other states, including the national capital, aiming for widespread participation. The committee intends to announce a detailed programme in the coming days to encourage maximum involvement,” said Ayali.

Previously, the committee comprised seven members. But two members — SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami and SAD leader Kirpal Singh Badungar — resigned, although their resignations were yet to be accepted.