Stage set for clash over party symbol, ‘original’ SAD tag

The Akal Takht-constituted five-member committee’s unanimous decision to elect former Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh as the president of “parallel” Shiromani Akali Dal today raised more questions than answers.

Related news: Akal Takht panel appoints Giani Harpreet Singh chief of SAD breakaway faction

Sacked cleric takes political battle to Sukhbir's doorstep

Sikh historian Jagtar Singh said, “The battle to claim the real Akali Dal and party symbol will be fought in the Election Commission.” Technicalities aside, voters are in a dilemma over which faction is the real Akali Dal and will represent the Sikh Panth.

In August 2024, the Akal Takht intervened to resolve the crisis that had led to the steady decline of the SAD and chart a roadmap for its revival.

On December 2, 2024, the Sukhbir-led faction accepted the Tankhah (religious punishment) for “misdeeds” conducted during his tenure as the Deputy Chief Minister from 2007 to 2017, which included cleaning bathrooms, shoes and utensils for 10 days.

However, they were deeply upset by the decision of Five High Priests to withdraw the Fakhr-e-Qaum title bestowed on Parkash Singh Badal, the late patriarch of the party.

This triggered a political storm and led to the removal of Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Harpreet Singh from their positions as Jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Damdama Sahib, respectively. Even the SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami also resigned amid the turmoil.

Despite the Akal Takht’s directive, the Sukhbir-led SAD went ahead with its internal elections, while the parallel faction, under the supervision of the Akal Takht-appointed committee, conducted its own membership drive.

Reacting to the development, Sukhbir said he had been heading legally recognised SAD and accused the breakaway group of undermining Sikh institutions and traditions.

Adding another dimension to the parallel faction’s formation, Satwant Kaur has been appointed chairperson of the Panthic Council. She is the daughter of Amrik Singh, former president of the All India Sikh Students Federation, who was killed during Operation Blue Star.

Her appointment is seen as a strategic move to reconnect with the Panthic legacy and evoke emotional resonance among the Sikh voters.

Moreover, it needs to be validated if religious bodies can constitute political parties. SAD (B) spokesperson Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema said, “A political party can be derecognised if it takes directions from a religious body.”

This division within the SAD is unlikely to benefit either faction. Instead, it opens the door for other political players — AAP, Congress and BJP — to attract Sikh voters.

Worryingly, the void in Panthic leadership has historically led to instability in Punjab. Already, hardliner groups, some backed by foreign funding, are attempting to exploit the situation by promoting Khalistan propaganda.

The SAD, once the dominant Panthic force in Punjab, has been in decline for years. Its alliance with the BJP, handling of sacrilege cases and failure to address core Sikh issues led to it’s worst-ever performance in the 2022 Assembly poll, winning just three segments.

The crisis deepened with internal dissent, erosion of grassroots support, and growing disconnect from religious institutions. The Akal Takht’s intervention in 2024 was seen as a last-ditch effort to salvage the SAD’s credibility. But the split has only fragmented the Panthic space further, leaving the Sikh electorate in confusion and the state vulnerable to political and ideological instability.