Badal family and Akali Dal: Journey from being at the helm of party to losing Presidency
Gurpreet Singh
Chandigarh, November 17, 2024: More than two months after he was declared a “tankhaiya" by Sri Akal Takht, Sukhbir Singh Badal tendered his resignation as President, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on November 16.
This new development comes at a time when Sukhbir Singh Badal is facing rebellion from the section of the party. A faction of the party that formed the Akali Dal Reform Movement has been demanding Sukhbir to leave to chair of the presidency.
The rebel faction of Akali Dal against Sukhbir also reached the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. It demanded that appropriate action be taken against Sukhbir for allegedly misusing his position following which Akal Takht - the highest temporal seat of Sikhs -declared him “tankhaiya (guilty of violating Sikh religious code)”
At the time when the Badal family is not at the helm in Akali Dal, questions are being raised over the party's future and its relevance.
When did the Badal family get the presidency for the first time?
Parkash Singh Badal, a five-time chief minister, was made the party president for the first time (Badal family's first presidency) in 1995. Parkash Singh Badal was the President of Akali Dal from 1995 to 2008 and led the party.
However, Parkash Singh Badal handed over the chairmanship to Sukhbir Singh Badal in 2008 amid opposition of 'dynastic politics'.
In fact, from 2007 to 2017, Parkash Singh Badal was the Chief Minister for two consecutive terms, then the presidency was held by Sukhbir. While Sukhbir was the Home Minister, he was also the Deputy Chief Minister.
Sukhbir Badal was made the president of Shiromani Akali Dal for the first time since 2008. Sukhbir Singh Badal was born on 9 July 1962. As young and dynamic politician, he held the political command of Punjab as Deputy Chief Minister from 2009 to 2017.
Who has been the president of Akali Dal so far?
The first president of Akali Dal was Surmukh Singh Jhabal. Read below the list of Akali Dal presidents so far -
Baba Kharak Singh
Master Tara Singh
Gopal Singh Komi
Tara Singh Thathar
Teja Singh Akarpuri
Babu Labh Singh
Jathedar Udham Singh Nagoke
Giani Kartar Singh
Jathedar Pritam Singh Godran
Hukum Singh
Sant Fateh Singh
Jathedar Achar Singh
Giani Bhupinder Singh
Jathedar Mohan Singh Tur
Jathedar Jagdev Singh Talwandi
Sant Harchand Singh Longowal
Surjit Singh Barnala
Parkash Singh Badal
Sukhbir Singh Badal
Who is the president of Akali Dal now?
When the rebel faction of Akali Dal raised their voice to remove Sukhbir Singh Badal from the presidency, Sukhbir Badal made a big decision and appointed senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhundar as the working president of Akali Dal. At present, only Bhundar is serving as the working president of Akali Dal.
Notably, the last election to the post of president and the organizational structure of the party was held on December 14, 2019. The election is conducted every five years. The election is due next month.