SAD working panel in quandary

As pressure mounts on committee to accept Sukhbir's resignation, party likely to take a legal opinion in matter

- Gurpreet Singh Nibber

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal is in a fix over accepting the resignation tendered by Sukhbir Singh Badal from the post of president and reorganising the party as per Akal Takht's edict fearing that it could land in a legal tangle with the Election Commission of India.

The section of leaders in the party have raised apprehensions that accepting the seven-member committee constituted by the Takht under the chairmanship of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami can be construed as taking directions from a religious body and violations under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act of 1950.

The leaders also said it might be seen as a violation under the provisions of the 42nd Amendment (1976) in the constitution, which calls for secular credentials of any political party.