Punjab: Sukhbir Badal elected SAD chief third time in a row

The Ferozpur MP was re-elected at a gathering of office-bearers at the Teja Singh Samundri Hall in Amritsar.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal, SAD chief, SAD foundation day, Punjab news, indian express news

Sukhbir Badal being honoured with the sword by SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal at Teja Singh Samundri Hall in Amritsar on Saturday. Rana Simranjit Singh

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) elected Sukhbir Singh Badal as its president for the third time in row on the party’s 99th foundation day on Saturday.

The Ferozpur MP was re-elected at a gathering of office-bearers at the Teja Singh Samundri Hall in Amritsar.

However, SAD leader in the state Assembly and former minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa was absent from the function.

Former minister Tota Singh proposed Sukhbir’s name for the party president post and former MP Prem Singh Chadumajra and Jagmeet Singh Brar supported the proposal. No other name was proposed and Sukhbir Singh Badal was elected unanimously.

Prem Singh Chadumajra said that Sukhbir Singh Badal’s election was “democratic”.

Though Dhindsa himself did not give any reasons about his absence from the function, the party had to issue a statement that he remained absent due to some personal work.

SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said, “Parminder Dhindsa had rung up the SAD president two days back to disclose that he had to attend to urgent personal work in Mumbai and sought permission to miss the delegate session.”

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Cheema also claimed that Dhindsa had during his conversation with the SAD president reposed “complete faith in his leadership as well as the policies and programmes of the party.”

Meanwhile, Dhindsa’s father and former Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhidsa joined the foundation day function held by Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) and other factions.

During the event held in Amritsar, Sukhdev gave call to “revive democracy in SAD”.

“Now there is no democracy in party. We have to bring back democracy in party. What all we had expected from Sukhbir Singh Badal was to resign from president post after the party’s defeat in Assembly elections in 2017. But Sukhbir Singh Badal and his father Parkash Singh Badal declined the resignation. We had won over Parkash Singh Badal to seek apology from Sikh panth and Akal Takht after the sacrilege and also agreed him to promise proper investigation and punish the accused in sacrilege cases. Parkash Singh Badal had agreed initially but then he stepped back,” said Dhindsa.

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Apart from Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, rebel leaders including Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, former minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Manjit Singh GK and Paramjit Singh Sarna were also present on the stage.

After being elected as president, Sukhbir Singh Badal attacked Taksali Akalis and said,” SAD was the true representative party of the Panth. Efforts were being made by the Congress to prop up stooges like the self styled Taksali group which had already been rejected by the people. Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had rightly summed up the meaning of Taksali as someone who was loyal to his party which the so-called Taksalis were clearly not.”

“I will work with the vision of Mission 2022 to ensure victory of the SAD – BJP alliance in the next Assembly elections. I urge all party workers to work with maximum zeal for the welfare of the party. Congress and its chief minister had already betrayed the people with false oaths and total lack of sensitivity towards implementing any of the promises made to them,” said Sukhbir.

defending the allegations of monopoly of Badal family over party, Sukhbir said, “In 53 years after formation of Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal ruled the state for more than 22 years and Parkash Singh Badal remained the CM for 19 years. Again, during this period, Parkash Singh Badal remained president for 12 years and I have been president for 12 years. During these 23 years, when either of us were the president, SAD ruled the state for 15 years.”

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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