CHANDIGARH: Rebel Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA from Dakha, Manpreet Singh Ayali, resigned on Wednesday from the Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), the breakaway Akali faction he had joined after its formation in August last year. He also stepped down from the 'Panthic unity coordination committee', which he headed as convener. The committee was formed about a month ago to explore a potential alliance between SAD (Punar Surjit) and SAD (Waris Punjab De), led by jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh. On May 17, members of SAD (WPD) in the panel announced an end to coordination with SAD (Punar Surjit), alleging it continued to promote leaders who had 'lost the moral right to lead the Panth.'
Reasons for Resignation
While announcing his resignations, Ayali stated that leaders who, according to the Akal Takht hukamnama, had lost the moral right to be associated with Akali Dal had become part of SAD (Punar Surjit). Without naming anyone, he said that based on the spirit of the Akal Takht directive, such leaders should have stayed away from party affairs for at least a year to help the faction gain public support. Ayali told TOI, 'Though such leaders claim they have undergone religious punishment, the sangat (community) was not ready to extend their support.'
Praise for Amritpal Singh
Ayali praised Amritpal Singh and his faction for their efforts to eradicate drugs from the state and for leading a Khalsa Vaheer, a march to encourage Sikh youths to take Amrit (baptize) and spread awareness against drugs. He declared he would not join any political party run from Delhi, including the ruling AAP in Punjab, the BJP at the Centre, or the Congress. He also ruled out returning to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Background and Committee Role
Ayali was among the five members of a committee formed after the Akal Takht's directions to revive and unite the Akali Dal. He said he was initially against forming a splinter group, as the Akal Takht's December 2, 2024 hukamnama had instructed against creating any separate factions (vakhra chulha) and instead called for a united Akali Dal. The committee's mandate was primarily limited to a membership drive. After the formation of SAD (Punar Surjit), it claimed to be the 'real' Akali Dal, even as the official SAD also conducted a membership drive, leading to the re-election of Sukhbir Singh Badal as party chief.
Ayali, who said he had kept a distance from SAD (Punar Surjit) affairs except for attending a couple of meetings, noted that people became 'disenchanted' with the faction because leaders with 'no moral right' were associated with it. Subsequently, many leaders and workers began deserting the party.
Religious Punishment Context
The religious punishment pronounced against Akali leaders from the previous government stemmed from incidents of sacrilege, police firing on anti-sacrilege protesters, and a controversial pardon (later revoked) granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by the Akal Takht, whose head is appointed by the SAD-controlled SGPC, for allegedly imitating the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
Counterclaims by SAD (Punar Surjit)
SAD (Punar Surjit) secretary general Gurpartap Singh Wadala told TOI that Ayali 'started working at cross purposes' after Giani Harpreet Singh was appointed as the faction's president. 'Everything was fine during the membership drive. But when Giani Harpreet Singh became president, Ayali tilted towards SAD (Waris Punjab De). He openly criticized the organizations and the president. His claim that the leadership had lost public support and moral authority is baseless because those leaders underwent religious punishment and were exonerated by the Akal Takht,' said Wadala, also a member of the five-member panel.
Wadala accused Ayali of having ambitions for the top party position, saying, 'From day one, he was against Giani Harpreet Singh. He was sailing in the same boat but trying to sink it.' He added that the coordination panel held six to seven meetings, and SAD (WPD) members never raised the issue of leaders losing moral authority. 'It was Ayali who brought up this issue to torpedo the talks,' Wadala claimed.
Alliance Discussions
Wadala revealed that the panel discussed avoiding a hardline stance on Khalistan, with SAD (WPD) agreeing. They also agreed that Amritpal Singh would be the CM face, with a deputy CM from SAD (Punar Surjit). Discussions included ticket allocations and fielding the strongest candidates from each party in constituencies, as well as a common minimum program.
Recent Desertions from SAD (Punar Surjit)
Several leaders have left the faction recently. Former SAD MLA Surjit Singh Rakhra formally joined AAP after being expelled for 'anti-party' activities. He said he had committed to AAP that if the government enacted an anti-sacrilege law, he would join. Another key functionary, Charanjit Singh Brar, quit the faction and joined BJP in January. In April, Barjinder Singh Brar, son of former minister Tota Singh, left SAD (Punar Surjit) to rejoin SAD. In March, former MLA Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan also returned to SAD. Sukhwant Singh Sarao, a vice president of the faction, resigned and joined BJP.
