Akali leaders publicly endorse Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa
A number of prominent Akali leaders who remained loyal to Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa today conveyed their dissatisfaction with the SAD leadership for refusing Parminder Singh Dhindsa’s ticket from the Sangrur seat.
Senior officials cautioned that the SAD would pay a heavy price for this treason at a meeting at Dhindsa’s home. Rather than fielding Dhindsa, the Akali Dal had chosen Sangrur’s Iqbal Singh Jhundan.
SAD chairman Sukhbir Singh Badal was criticized yesterday by former SGPC president Jagir Kaur for breaking his pledge to the Dhindsa family.
At the meeting were former MLA Justice Nirmal Singh, former ministers Baldev Singh Mann, Sarwan Singh Phillaur, and Parminder Singh Dhindsa, among others.
A number of leaders made a strong position against the party, saying they couldn’t function in such an environment. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, on the other hand, advocated commitment to the Shiromani Akali Dal’s real values and togetherness.
As the SAD tries to keep its flock together, the open animosity might be problematic for the group. Senior politician Sikander Singh Maluka’s son and daughter-in-law, Gurpreet Singh Maluka and Parampal Kaur Sidhu, have joined the BJP. Parampal is running for office on the BJP ticket from Bathinda. Pawan Kumar Tinu, another prominent leader, has also departed from the SAD. In order to run from the Jalandhar parliamentary seat, he had joined the AAP.
