Manpreet Singh Ayali’s defiance fresh rebellion against Akali Dal leadership

Tribune News Service

Jupinderjit Singh

Chandigarh, July 18

After abstaining from voting in the presidential poll, in defiance of the party’s decision to vote for BJP-led NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu, the head of the SAD Legislative Party, Manpreet Ayali, sought a change in the party leadership as per the recommendations of the Iqbal Jhunda committee report and policies.

Ayali’s rebellion against the party’s decision and a subsequent video raising the banner of revolt has angered many party leaders, who didn’t see it coming.

This is the second voice of rebellion in the party after the Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll. Earlier, party’s senior vice-president Jagmeet Brar had questioned the leadership’s policies and sought more power for young leaders.

“I was not consulted by the party leadership in its decision to support Murmu. Even the intellectuals supporting the party or the Sikh Panth were not taken on board before taking the decision. I could not vote as the BJP had gone back on its promises to solve issues of Punjab such as transfer of Chandigarh, protecting our share of river waters among others, but it did not do it. As the other candidate, Yashwant Sinha, was supported by the Congress, which had caused such damage to Punjab and Sikhs, I had to abstain from voting,” Ayali said in a video message.

SAD spokesperson Daljeet Cheema tried to convince Ayali to cast his vote. Party sources said when Ayali did not turn up at the Assembly for almost two hours after the voting began, Cheema called him. Ayali reportedly told him that he was abstaining and would explain his decision shortly. Later, he released the video.

Cheema said the party would deliberate on Ayali’s move and further action on it. He declined to comment further. Ayali, in his video, minced no words in showing his displeasure with the party leadership and defiance of their diktat, “The party has to implement the Iqbal Singh Jhunda panel report about change in policies and leadership. The report was based on a survey and feedback from state residents on reasons behind the party’s loss in the state Assembly poll and later the Sangrur bypoll.”

He said, “The party leadership may have some personal interest in bridging relations with the BJP, but I want to tell the party that if it wants our support, it has to fulfil promises made to us on Punjab issues. Instead, they are giving land to Haryana for a separate Vidhan Sabha and converting Panjab University into a Central university.”

Decision angers party leaders

Ayali, a three-time MLA from Dakha, has been known as a soft-spoken leader and ardent supporter of the Badal family. His rebellion against the party’s decision and a subsequent video raising the banner of revolt has angered many party leaders, who didn’t see it coming.

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