Shiromani Akali Dal Re-endorses Sukhbir Badal's Leadership: Path Ahead Remains Arduous

Key Developments from the SAD Core Committee Meeting— the meeting was marked by conspicuous abstentions.

Full Confidence in Sukhbir Badal's Leadership

In its meeting on 13th June, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Core Committee, as expected, unanimously expressed full confidence in the leadership of Sukhbir Badal. The official statement released afterward reiterated the party's commitment to its "panthic" agenda and emphasized that Punjab's welfare would remain a top priority, regardless of electoral outcomes. While this endorsement may appear to quell the murmurs of discontent against Sukhbir Badal, it is important to note that many dissenting voices and disgruntled personalities were absent from the meeting. These abstentions cast doubt on the true unanimity of the support.

The Committee's decision underscores the internal dynamics and challenges within the party, particularly in light of its abysmal electoral performance, with the lowest ever poll figure of 13.42%. Although Harsimrat Kaur Badal was able to retain her Bathinda Lok Sabha seat—the only seat that SAD won—this was more of a consolation prize rather than any sign of resurgence for the party in its erstwhile stronghold of the Malwa region. The SAD lost comprehensively in all the other 12 seats in Punjab. These issues suggest that the path to the party's revival, and indeed survival, remains arduous and fraught with challenges, especially given the victory of independent candidates in two of the so-called “panthic” seats of Punjab—Khadoor Sahib and Faridkot (SC).

Sukhbir Singh Badal's Statement

Commitment to Core Causes

Sukhbir Singh Badal asserted that the election results would not deter the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) from its commitment to the Panth, Punjab, farmers, and other aggrieved and poorer sections of society. He emphasized that the party's dedication to these causes is steadfast, irrespective of electoral outcomes. Badal assured that the party would continue to work diligently to fulfill its commitments, reinforcing that their principles are not swayed by political victories or defeats.

Guiding Principles and Future Strategy

Reiterating the party's ethos, Badal stated that the SAD is guided by the eternal, inclusive vision set by the Guru Sahiban, saints, and seers. He emphasized that these guiding principles would remain above politics and would not be altered by changing political weather. As Party President, Badal humbly accepted and respected the people's mandate, underscoring the importance of ongoing introspection and improvement to remain worthy of the people's love and respect.

Concrete Steps Not Spelt Out

In summary, despite the setback in the Lok Sabha polls, Sukhbir Singh Badal reaffirmed the SAD's commitment to its core principles and causes, indicating that the party's agenda remains unchanged by electoral outcomes. However, there was no public statement or mention of any concrete decisions or strategies to change the party's approach or messaging, particularly regarding outreach to the Hindu community, women in general, Scheduled Castes, including Mazhabi Sikhs. Observers suggest that this might be a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Usual Faces, Conspicuous Absentees

The Core Committee meeting saw the usual faces in attendance. Balwinder Singh Bhundar, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Paramjit Singh Sarna (former President Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee), Daljit Singh Cheema, and Surjit Singh Rakhra were present. However, there were several notable absences, including Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Charanjit Singh Brar, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, and Manpreet Ayali. The absence of SAD General Secretary Bikram Singh Majithia, who is the brother-in-law of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, was particularly conspicuous.

Notably, Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, the husband of Sukhbir’s sister, had been expelled from the party during the election campaign for anti-party activities. There was not even a token presence of any Hindu Akali leader or any other woman leader, apart from Bibi Jagir Kaur, whose loyalty has again come under scrutiny due to the poor performance of SAD in the Bholath assembly segment—supposed to be her stronghold—in the Hoshiarpur (SC) Lok Sabha constituency.

Sukhbir's Outreach to Regional Parties

Sukhbir Singh Badal's outreach efforts to regional parties on Twitter, including previous file photos with the leaders, a couple of days before the Core Committee meeting, are significant and were obviously meant to send a signal to the people of Punjab. While SAD may not consider mending fences with the BJP, it appreciates the resurgence and victories of regional leaders representing regional parties as a symbol of Indian politics’ strong federalism. His attempts to connect with leaders such as Chandrababu Naidu, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray and even Nitish Kumar are noteworthy. These efforts seem to be irrespective of these parties' affiliations with the India Alliance or NDA lead by the BJP. However, there was a notable silence regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hat-trick victory, a conscious act of omission that the people of Punjab wouldn't have missed.

Interestingly, the Twitter feed of his wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the four-time Lok Sabha MP from Bathinda, was replete with photos of the new leaders of the NDA during the swearing-in ceremony of the Modi 3.0 government on 9th June. This indicates a "good cop, bad cop" strategy regarding PM Modi’s NDA government. While Sukhbir maintains an ostensibly tough stance towards the BJP, including PM Modi, Harsimrat Kaur, with these overtures, is attempting to keep the doors open for a possible re-engagement with the BJP, which, needless to say, would include her induction into the Union Cabinet.

Sukhbir Castigates Kangana Ranaut

Sukhbir Singh Badal had earlier taken a firm stand, via Twitter, against BJP MP Kangana Ranaut for her controversial remarks about Punjab. He pointed out that if you insult someone’s mother by saying she and other women of Punjab are taking “100-100 Rupaiya” to participate in the Kisan Andolan, you are bound to hurt the sentiments of their children. This is exactly what happened with CISF officer Kulwinder Kaur, whose mother participated in the Kisan Andolan. Kulwinder Kaur acted in an emotional state, Sukhbir maintained. Kangana Ranaut should be more circumspect about her utterances, he exhorted. This move is seen as part of Badal's broader strategy to defend the state's interests and maintain the party's image, especially among the farmers.

Reflection on 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

The core committee meeting was convened to reflect on the party's performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and to discuss future strategy. Despite internal voices calling for a change in leadership, the committee reposed faith in Sukhbir Singh Badal's leadership. The party's poor showing in the elections led to some members, like Charanjit Singh Brar, demanding an apology to the Akal Takht and the formation of a 'panch pradhani' committee within the SAD. However, it seems that the performance of the party and its leaders in the assembly segments, including ex-MLAs and 'halqa' in-charges, was not discussed in detail, apart from random references in the discussion.

Manpreet Ayali's Stance and Performance

Manpreet Singh Ayali, a prominent voice of dissent within the party, had previously distanced himself from party activities following the non-implementation of the Iqbal Singh Jhundan Committee's recommendations. Despite this, he reaffirmed his commitment to the Akali Dal and claimed that he had sincerely campaigned for the party's candidate in the Dakha constituency during the 2024 elections.

However, the figures tell a different tale. While Ayali is one of the three SAD MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha, the performance of SAD in the Dakha segment of Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency—primarily a rural ‘halqa’—was far from flattering. With a mere 21,776 votes, the SAD candidate finished a poor third behind the INC (40,276) and AAP (28,743) candidates, pointing to either his waning influence in his pocket borough or his lack of sincere efforts in the campaigning. Thus, it is highly unlikely that Ayali will emerge as a point of crystallization for the challenge to Sukhbir Badal’s leadership within the SAD anytime soon.

Sikandar Singh Maluka's Removal and Influence

Sikandar Singh Maluka was removed from his position as the halqa in-charge of the Maur assembly segment after his son and daughter-in-law joined the BJP. The latter, a former Punjab cadre IAS officer, contested and lost the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat on the BJP ticket. Although he has not been officially expelled or suspended, Maluka has since been absent from party events, leading to speculation about his future role within the SAD. While no direct causality is implied, it is noteworthy that although Harsimrat Kaur Badal managed to retain her Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, her performance in three of the four assembly segments of Mansa district—Mansa, Maur, and Sardulgarh—was marginally behind the AAP challenger Gurmeet Singh Khudian.

Moreover, the Rampura Phul segment, Maluka’s “home” segment, which is part of the Faridkot (SC) constituency, saw a landslide victory for the independent "panthic" candidate, leaving the SAD contender a poor fifth. Given these developments, the future of Maluka and his family within the SAD appears bleak. Even if he formally joins the BJP, the incremental gain or loss to either party is likely to be minimal.

Dhindsa's Discontent and Vote Figures

The denial of the Sangrur Lok Sabha ticket to Parminder Singh Dhindsa led to significant discontent within the party. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and his supporters expressed their dissatisfaction with the leadership's decision, and the Dhindsas' silence may have impacted the SAD's electoral prospects. Notably, in the Sunam, Lehra, and Dirba (SC) segments, supposedly the strongholds of the Dhindsa family, the SAD candidate finished a poor fifth, failing to secure even ten thousand votes in any ‘halqa’. Although the tale is similar in the other six assembly segments, it is clear that the results signify either the attenuated influence of the father-son Dhindsa duo or that they did not canvass vigorously. In any case, they continue to challenge Sukhbir Badal for the moment, but their resurgence in the near future will be an uphill task, necessitating them to start from square one.

Bibi Jagir Kaur's “Return” and Role

Bibi Jagir Kaur, a prominent leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and former president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), has recently made significant moves within the party. In March 2024, she rejoined the SAD in the presence of party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, more than a year after her expulsion for alleged 'anti-party' activities in November 2022. Sukhbir Badal personally visited her residence in Begowal village on March 14, 2024, to bring her back into the party fold, a move seen as an attempt to strengthen the SAD ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Upon her return, Jagir Kaur, the spiritual leader of the Lobana community, emphasized her unwavering commitment to Akali principles and her dedication to the betterment of the party and the SGPC. She was appointed as the party's campaign in-charge for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency in April 2024, signaling her active role in the electoral efforts. Bibi Jagir Kaur remains a key figure in Punjab politics and Sikh religious affairs, playing a crucial role in the party's current strategy and activities.

That said, the performance of SAD in the Bholath assembly segment, her purported stronghold, within the Hoshiarpur (SC) Lok Sabha constituency, was far from commendable. SAD garnered a mere 12,302 votes, finishing a poor third behind AAP (23,426) and INC (22,667). While this may indicate her waning influence in her home constituency, rumours are rife in the area that she had entered into a tacit agreement with AAP, transferring her votes to them in exchange for their support should a by-election have taken place due to Sukhpal Khaira’s victory as an MP from Sangrur. Be that as it may, the overall performance in Bibi Jagir Kaur’s home base is quite lacklustre, to say the least, thereby diminishing her stature in any significant role in Punjab politics, within the SAD or otherwise.

Bikram Singh Majithia: A Controversial but Influential SAD Leader

Political Rise and Influence

Bikram Singh Majithia, the current General Secretary, is a prominent leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab, known for his rapid political rise and significant influence within the party. As the brother-in-law of Sukhbir Badal, Majithia first entered the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 2007, representing the Majitha constituency, and successfully retained his seat in the 2012 and 2017 assembly elections. During his tenure, he served as a cabinet minister in the SAD-BJP government, handling important portfolios. His growing influence within the party caused umbrage, prompting senior leaders like Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and Rattan Singh Ajnala to leave the party.

2022 Elections and Family Influence

In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, Majithia took on Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu in Amritsar East but lost (Sidhu too, lost; AAP won), while his wife, Ganieve Kaur Majithia, won the Majitha seat with a 46.69 percent vote share, defeating Aam Aadmi Party and Congress candidates. She is one of only three winning SAD MLAs.

Legal Challenges

His career faced turbulence in December 2021 when he was booked, at the fag end of the outgoing Channi government, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act based on a 2018 report by the anti-drug Special Task Force. After spending over five months in jail, he was granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in August 2022. Despite these controversies, Majithia continues to play a pivotal role in SAD as its General Secretary, vocally criticizing the Aam Aadmi Party government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the drugs issue. His influence was further solidified when his brother-in-law, Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, was expelled from the party in May 2024, indicating a power shift towards Majithia and his sister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who is the only one among the winners in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Rumoured Rift and Political Strategy

Although the rumours have been officially and privately denied, the rift between Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Majithia—real or perceived—remains a talking point among well-wishers of SAD as well as independent commentators. In the build-up to the Lok Sabha campaign, he was conspicuously absent from Sukhbir Badal’s press conferences and meetings, including the Core Committee meetings like the one held on 13th June. He was also not seen in Sukhbir’s “Punjab Bachao Yatra,” except perhaps when the yatra entered his home constituency of Majitha. Party insiders maintain that he is far more politically savvy than his brother-in-law, the SAD Supremo, and is able to come up with pithy remarks to the press in the Punjab idiom that resonates with the rural masses. He is also a better organiser in the field and is able to reach out to party members who may have their grievances. However, his rapid rise and perhaps non-consultative—his admirers say "decisive"—style of functioning sometimes earns him detractors, both within and outside the party. Yet he’s firmly within the party as of now and has not uttered a single word against the leadership of Sukhbir Badal, even as he has not publicly reiterated his loyalty and support to him.

Future Role in SAD

Despite facing significant challenges and controversies, Majithia remains a key figure in Punjab politics. With his family's electoral successes bolstering his position within the SAD, he is bound to play a very significant role—positive or negative remains to be seen—in the future of the SAD.

Summing Up: Cautious Optimism for SAD's Future

Despite its dip in poll percentage and the emergence of independent "panthic" candidates, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) remains a fundamentally strong regional party of Punjab, deeply rooted in the historic struggle of the Sikhs during colonial rule to free historic Sikh shrines and gurdwaras from corrupt mahants. However, its trajectory ahead—post its formal divorce with the BJP, which incidentally polled more votes than SAD (18.56% vs. 13.42%)—remains uncertain. The Core Committee meeting and outreach efforts towards regional parties in other states, coupled with the low appeal of the BJP in Punjab’s rural areas and AAP losing ground there as well, provide room for cautious optimism.

The Congress party, with its victory in 7 out of 13 seats, remains a significant force. Rapprochement with the BJP in the build-up to the 2027 Vidhan Sabha elections remains only a remote possibility, but in politics, the art of the possible often prevails. Even the harshest critics of SAD do not wish to see it die or wither away, due to its unimpeachable pro-Punjab credentials and its commitment to the unity and integrity of a secular India. It, however, needs to reinvent itself as an authentic regional party of Punjab, reflecting the aspirations of all communities in the state, not merely the Sikhs or farmers. To do this, it must avoid functioning as a private limited company of a particular family.

SAD, indeed Punjab, stands at a crossroads. The decisions its leadership takes today will determine its trajectory—whether towards ascendancy or a slow fade into oblivion. The time for decisive action is now—tomorrow may be too late. Failure to act decisively will only open the doors to other forces to occupy this political space, and those forces may not necessarily be conducive to the peace, prosperity, and progress of Punjab.

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