Akalis split, Tohra heads new group

Prem Singh Chandumajra, a confidant of Tohra, told newsmen that they would approach the Election Commission seeking recognition and allotment of the party symbol of Scale’ claiming theirs was the “real” Akali Dal.

The factional feud in ruling Akali Dal was triggered on December 10 last when Tohra demanded the resignation of Badal as party president.

Besides the two factions led by Parkash Singh Badal and G S Tohra, the other Akali Dal splinter groups are headedby Simranjit Singh Mann, Kuldip Singh Wadala and Jasbir Singh Rode.

Tohra, who was dismissed by Badal supporters as the president of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC), controlling body of gurdwaras, has also held key positions in the undivided Akali Dal before his expulsion from the party sometime back.

That the split in the Akali Dal was likely to cast a shadow over the party’s prospects in the coming Lok Sabha elections became clear when speakers trained their guns at Badal and vowed to defeat the Akali Dal faction headed by the chief minister at the hustings.

In his first speech as the president of the parallel party, Tohra lashed out at Badal accusing him “violating all tenets of Sikhism and challenging the authority of the Akal Takht, supreme and temporal seat of Sikhs.”

He charged that Badal had “denigrated” Sikh institutions and “interfered” in the religious affairs. President of Sikh Students Federation (Manjit group) Bhai Manjit Singh, who was present at the convention,called upon the other splinter Akali leaders to merge with the Akali Dal led by Tohra.