Dhindsa to float new party today

Quote:

“We want to free the SGPC from the clutches of the Badals… Many leaders will join us tomorrow. Our party will be true representative of the Punjabis” Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, rebel akali

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 6

Punjab is expected to witness a multi-cornered contest in the next Assembly elections as rebel Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa today announced a new party that will “mainly oppose” the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Badal family.

Likely to be named Shiromani Panthic Dal, Dhindsa will hold a meeting of his supporters in Ludhiana tomorrow to make formal announcements related to the outfit and its top leadership.

“Our doors are open to all like-minded leaders willing to fight for the panth. We want to free the SGPC from the clutches of the Badals… Many leaders will join us tomorrow. Our party will be the true representative of the Punjabis,” said Dhindsa. He was here to induct Akali-turned-Congress leader Tejinderpal Singh Sandhu and his loyalists into his party.

Several rebel Akalis led by former MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura had formed SAD (Taksali) last year ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Though Dhindsa shared stage with them, he stopped short of joining the party.

Dhindsa had quit the SAD as its Raja Sabha leader in October 2019. The same year he was conferred Padma Bhushan amid his growing closeness to the BJP. In January, his son and Lehragaga MLA Parminder Singh Dhindsa also stepped down as the SAD legislature party leader in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

SAD spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said the root cause of Dhindsa’s step was he wanted to see himself as party president. “In the Akali Dal, he objected to Sukhbir Badal’s leadership and then refused to take orders from (SAD-Taksali chief) Brahmpura,” said Cheema.