Rift in SAD widens over decision of SGPC to remove Jathedars

A widening rift has come out in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Badal family after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee's (SGPC) move to oust Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Sultan Singh.

- TARUNI GANDHI

Senior party leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who is the brother-in-law of former SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, publicly opposed the action, inviting a strong backlash from within the party leadership.

Majithia, whose great-grandfather Sundar Singh Majithia was the inaugural president of the SGPC, was among six other leaders who condemned the decision of the committee. This announcement invited a severe response from SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder, who criticized Majithia for "backstabbing the Akali Dal and Sukhbir Singh Badal." The party has now resolved to serve show-cause notices to all the leaders who were against the decision.

Internal Struggle Within SAD Deepens Majithia's defiance of the SGPC move is a critical test of Sukhbir Badal's leadership, as he is the first senior leader in the Badal camp to outrightly challenge the move. The row occurs just when Sukhbir was solidifying his hold over Panthic matters by shifting the Jathedars, and the move has been viewed as an attempt to bypass the hold of the Akal Takht-mandated seven-member panel in SAD's membership drive.

Majithia's rebellion has also further destabilized Sukhbir's grip over the party since he has now lost a third sitting MLA to his control. While Majithia's wife, Ganieve Majithia, holds the Majithia constituency, SAD MLA Manpreet Singh Aiyali of Dakha has sided with the group against Sukhbir and even started the Akal Takht-directed membership campaign. At the same time, Banga MLA Dr. Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi joined Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), contributing to increasing instability in SAD.