Akali rebel Gurpartap Tikka is acting president of SAD (Urban)

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 13

Once an Akali rebelm, Gurpartap Singh Tikka, has been appointed acting president of the SAD (urban) in the holy city. Tikka, a close confidant of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, had contested last Assembly elections from south constituency against Akali candidate Inderbir Singh Bolaria. Following which he was suspended from the party, but was reinstated during the last Parliament elections.

His elevation in the party is also seen as a move to counter Inderbir Bolaria, who did not hold back from criticising the party after he was unceremoniously removed as the head of the Youth Akali Dal, Majha zone, over a month ago. Bolaria in league with the natives of his constituency had protested against the setting up of the proposed solid waste management plant at Bhagtanwala dump site.

Talking to the Amritsar Tribune, Tikka expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and the Deputy Chief Minister for reposing faith in him and giving him the responsibility of party.

Tikka, who claims to belong to the Taksali Akali family, with old ties with the Badal family, said he would abide by the party guidelines and work aggressively to further party’s policies for the welfare and development of the region and the people.

Also a close confidant of Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Tikka said “Almighty has given me an opportunity to serve the people and party and I assure everyone that I will come up to their expectations”.

He became party’s choice after Upkar Singh Sandhu had resigned from the same position on October 24 to express his anguish at desecration of birs of Guru Granth Sahib in the state followed by pardoning of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmit Ram Rahim by the Akal Takht. The move had initiated a spate of resignations from grassroot-level Akali leaders in Amritsar district. As many as five circle heads, out of the total 15 circles in the district, had resigned.