After Dhami, ex-SGPC chief Badungar quits Akal Takht-constituted panel

Ahead of the third meeting of the seven-member committee constituted by the Akal Takht, to oversee the membership drive and elections of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) office-bearers, a key member and ex-SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar quit the panel on Tuesday.

This comes a day after the chairperson of the committee, Harjinder Singh Dhami, resigned from the Akal Takht-constituted panel and the post of SGPC president.

Badungar, who is known as a loyalist of the Badal family, released a video message announcing his resignation.

The former SGPC chief asked the Akal Takht to accept his resignation.

Giving reasons, he said the committee has no relevance after the resignation of the SGPC president Dhami.

“How can the meeting take place today without the chairperson of the committee?” he asked.

Badungar said the committee has met twice without any tangible outcome. “I don't think without the chairperson, the committee has significance and power to take decisions.”

The Akal Takht had formed the committee on December 2 last year to oversee the new membership drive and elections for the post of president and other office bearers of the SAD. It had declared the incumbent leadership 'unfit' to lead the party.

However, Shiromani Akali Dal working committee started the membership drive on its own and refused to relinquish control to the seven-member panel.