Once close, how Sukhbir Badal and brother-in-law Bikram Majithia fell out, deepening Akali Dal crisis

In an unprecedented public inquisition, the three Jathedars — including Giani Harpreet Singh who was removed as the head priest of Takht Damdama Sahib last month — held Badal responsible for multiple failings, including the killing of two men in police firing on people protesting against sacrilege, and the controversial pardon granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. They also declared the Akali leadership unfit to lead the Sikh community (panth). The Jathedars further directed the party to accept Badal’s resignation and set up a seven-member panel to begin rebuilding the party. In the public show of atonement that followed, Badal sat on guard duty outside the Golden Temple, during which a former militant fired at him, while Majithia cleaned toilets at an inn near the Golden Temple.

Majithia’s statement condemning the removal of the two high priests and co-signed by five others, including MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, marks the first time he has openly taken a stand against Badal. Ayali is one of the two Akali MLAs at present along with Majithia’s wife Ganieve Kaur.

The reaction was swift, with SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder issuing a scathing statement against Majithia, reminding him of his rapid ascent in the party due to the Badals.

The brothers-in-law have not shared a public platform for quite some time now, particularly since Majithia’s release from prison in August 2022. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, they largely avoided each other. While Badal crisscrossed Punjab during the campaigning, Majithia confined himself to the Majha belt, covering Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran. He also refused to comment on Badal, consistently dodging questions about their relationship. Instead, he emphasised that he had stoutly opposed any poll alliance with the BJP, the party’s erstwhile ally for over two decades.

In the 2022 Assembly elections, Ganeive Kaur was one of only three Akali MLAs to win (one of them has gone over to the AAP). This victory was widely seen as a personal triumph for Majithia, especially after the party fielded him against Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu in Amritsar East, only for him to be soundly defeated by AAP first-timer Jeevanjyot Kaur.

For years, Badal was perceived as an indulgent brother-in-law to a fiery young leader. Locals still recall how Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who maintained a low profile until then, went door-to-door canvassing for her younger brother Bikram in his first Assembly election from Majithia in 2007.

Majithia won and was soon given a prominent place in Parkash Singh Badal’s Cabinet as its youngest minister. Sukhbir Badal was seen as a mentor and protector, even as Badal senior was said to be uneasy about Majithia’s rapid rise. This disapproval became more apparent when, at a public rally attended by Majithia, Parkash Singh Badal remarked how some people had everything handed to them on a platter while others had to endure years in prison. Many interpreted this as a veiled reference to Majithia.

Regardless of Parkash Singh Badal’s perceived reservations, Badal and Majithia shared a warm relationship for years. Majithia would publicly touch Badal’s feet as a mark of respect and Harsimrat made no secret of her fondness for her brother.

Rumours of a rift

Cracks in their relationship began to appear when Majithia was charged in a drug-related case and sent to prison in January 2022. Ironically, his name in the drugs case surfaced while the Akali Dal was in power.

Rumours of a rift between the two briefly dialled down during the wedding of Badal’s elder daughter last month. However, many noted that even then the two maintained a discreet distance.

The SGPC’s decision to sack the two Jathedars brought the divide into the open. Balwinder Singh Bhunder delivered a sharp and personal rebuke to Majithia, reminding him that his great-grandfather Sundar Singh Majithia was the first president of the SGPC. He also pointed out how Harsimrat had raised him and Badal stood by him “like a rock” during difficult times, an apparent reference to his imprisonment.

Bhunder lamented that instead of backing his brother-in-law, Majithia was playing into the hands of the party’s detractors. The remark was widely interpreted as a reference to Majithia’s outreach to breakaway leaders from the Sudhar Lehar faction. The Akali Dal is now said to be considering issuing a notice to Majithia.

Akalis have their task cut out

This meltdown comes at a time when the party is at its lowest. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, its former junior alliance partner BJP secured a better vote share of 18.56% than the Akalis, whose vote share dropped from 27.45% in 2019 to 13.42%.

In January this year, Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, unapologetic about his separatist views, formed another similarly named party, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), mounting an open challenge to the over 100-year-old Akali Dal.

Many had believed that the December 2, 2024, hearing at the Akal Takht, followed by the process of recruiting new members and holding fresh party elections, would help rebuild the party from the ground up.

But that seems like a pipe dream now. The party’s existential crisis has only deepened and speculation is rife about how the Akali Dal may face a division instead of consolidation.