After 7-month break, Anil Joshi returns to Akali Dal

A day after BJP president Sunil Jakhar expressed views favouring a strong Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), former Punjab minister Anil Joshi on Monday rejoined the party in Ludhiana following a brief meeting with senior Akali leaders. His return to the SAD is expected to stir the political landscape in Amritsar, where he could emerge as a strong MLA candidate.

Approximately seven months ago, on November 21, 2024, Joshi had resigned from the primary membership of the SAD, stating the party was “only focused on Panthic issues and was bereft of progressive thinking and brotherhood”.

Speaking to The Tribune, Joshi said that following a brief lunch meeting in Ludhiana this afternoon, he learnt through a social media post that he had once again been inducted into the party. He added that since his departure from the SAD, he had met party president Sukhbir Singh Badal several times and maintained social ties with the leadership.

Commenting on his rejoining, Joshi responded, “Did I join any political party after resigning from the SAD?” He said that Punjab was currently in dire need of a strong regional party to steer it out of the crisis, asserting that the SAD was the only political entity capable of restoring Punjab to its former glory.

He voiced support for a SAD-BJP coalition, suggesting it would reflect Sikh-Hindu camaraderie. He also favoured dialogue with BJP leaders for rapprochement. He stated that his allegiance lay with Punjabiyat, noting that his family had deep roots in the state.