SAD breakaway faction eyes Amritsar for its headquarters
2
Amritsar: The reorganised
Shiromani Akali Dal
(SAD), led by former officiating jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh, has begun the process of establishing its party headquarters in Amritsar and set up the party's core and executive committees to formalise its organisational structure and manage day-to-day affairs.
"We are actively looking for a suitable office space in Amritsar to revive the traditional practice of having the SAD's headquarters in the holy city, along with a sub-office that will be established in Chandigarh to coordinate party affairs," said Jasbir Singh Ghuman, a senior delegate of the rebel SAD, on Thursday,
Former All India Sikh Students Federation president, Ghuman said a meeting was held on Thursday involving the five-member Bharti Committee, party president Harpreet Singh, and Panthic Council chairpersons Satwant Kaur to finalise key decisions related to the party's structure and logistics to pave way for the formal launch of operations.
Ghuman said that the party is currently engaged in discussions on key political issues concerning Punjab with intellectuals , and also studying the dynamics of Centre-state relations. Dismissing reports of any alliance talks, he clarified, "At this stage, we are focused on setting up the party's infrastructure and deliberating on both political and religious matters. There is no consideration of alliances at the moment.
"
The breakaway Akali faction could make it difficult for SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal to regain lost influence and public support in Punjab, according to P Ajnala, a Sikh intellectual. The SAD won only three seats in the 2022 assembly elections but now holds just one MLA in the state assembly — Ganieve Kaur Majithia, wife of jailed SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia. Other MLAs, Sukhminder Kumar, defected to AAP, while Manpreet Singh Ayali has openly aligned with the SAD rebel camp and is also one member of the five-member committee constituted by Akal Takht to reorganise the SAD.
The upcoming Tarn Taran byelection — expected to be the first significant electoral test — could serve as a mirror reflecting which party truly commands the confidence of the people in the state.
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