Hint of revolt in Akali Dal causes worry to Badals

The Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal ( SAD) is facing a major power struggle within the party. There seems to be a growing resentment against the Badals, the party’s first family.

The resignation of senior Akali leader and Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa from party posts is the latest development that has raised questions about the party’s health and become a cause of worry for the Badals.

Although Mr Dhindsa claimed that he resigned due to personal health reasons, his resignation seems to be fallout of the simmering discontent against party patriach Parkash Singh Badal and his son and party president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Sources said that one of the reasons which compelled Mr

Dhindsa to quit party posts was

Sukhbir Singh

Badal’s alleged illtreatment.

When questioned about the dissent, senior party leader and party spokesperson Daljeet Singh

Cheema said the issue of Mr

Dhindsa’s resignation is being blown out of proportion.

Immediately, after

Mr Dhindsa’s resignation from party posts, three other senior leaders, including MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Ratan Singh Ajnala, also raised questions on the soft stand taken by the party against tainted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

They had also indirectly hinted that the way Sukhbir Singh Badal was running the party was not acceptable to them.

The three senior leaders from the Majha region stopped short of quitting the party as Parkash Singh Badal took to fire- fighting and somehow managed to quell the “rebellion”.

Sources said two more “upset” leaders from Majha and Malwa regions were in touch with these leaders, however the party patron managed to placated them too.

“No comments”, said Mr Brahmpura when asked about Sukhbir Singh Badal’s leadership style. “Internal differences are not there to be made public. Things sometimes go wrong. It is for the party leadership to sort out the problems,” he added.

Earlier, showing disagreement with the top leaders former education minister Tota Singh and Lok Sabha member Prem Singh Chandumajra questioned the decision of the SAD leadership to boycott a Punjab Assembly debate on Justice ( retd.) Ranjit Singh Commission report on the 2005 Bargari firing incident