Sukhbir Badal remains Akali Dal’s poster boy despite resigning as president, leaders promote him as next Punjab CM face
Sukhbir Badal commanded all the attention at the Maghi Mela conference held in Muktsar Sahib despite no longer holding any position in the SAD.
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Just four days after Sukhbir Badal’s resignation was accepted, he commanded all the attention at the Maghi Mela conference held in Muktsar Sahib on Tuesday, despite no longer holding any position in the party. (Express Photo)Little more than one month after Sri Akal Takht Sahib declared the leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) ‘unfit’ and made the party’s working committee accept the resignation of Sukhbir Singh Badal from the post of president, he continues to be the poster boy of the party.
Just four days after Sukhbir Badal’s resignation was accepted, he commanded all the attention at the Maghi Mela conference held in Muktsar Sahib on Tuesday, despite no longer holding any position in the party.
There were only three pictures on the banner behind the main stage of the rally. On one side was Sukhbir Singh Badal, on the other side was his father, the late Parkash Singh Badal, and in the centre was the party’s acting president, Balwinder Singh Bhunder. No other leader found a place on the banner.
Political conferences on Maghi Mela has great importance in the politics of Punjab. Former MLA and SAD(B) leader Kanwarjit Singh Rozi Barkandi, in his speech, declared that Sukhbir Singh Badal will become the next chief minister of Punjab in 2027.
Former party MLA N K Sharma raised the slogan, “Sukhbir Badal aage bado, hum tumhare saath hain (Go ahead Sukhbir Badal, we are with you).” All the speakers addressed and praised Sukhbir Singh Badal in their speeches for the development in Punjab. Senior SAD(B) leader Bikram Singh Majithia, his wife MLA Ganieve Kaur Majithia, and party MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali were yet to reach the rally.
While pronouncing religious punishment for Badal and other leaders on December 2 last year for the “mistakes” committed by SAD and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017, the Akal Takht also directed SAD’s working committee to accept the resignation of Badal as party chief and other leaders within three days. Though Badal underwent religious punishment, the working committee did not accept his resignation, which he had tendered in November 16 last year. The committee sought 20 days to convene a meeting, a deadline that expired on December 22 without an extension.
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