Veteran Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa dies at 89

Veteran Akali leader and former Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa died of cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Mohali on Wednesday evening. He was 89.

Advertisement

“Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa was admitted to Fortis Hospital, Mohali on May 27, 2025, in a critical condition. He was suffering from severe pneumonia and cardiac complications, compounded by age related health issues,” the hospital management said.

They said despite the best efforts of the multidisciplinary medical team, he passed away at 5:05 pm today due to cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac arrest.

Dhindsa had been admitted to the hospital two-three days ago.

Dhindsa had remained Lok Sabha MP of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) from Sangrur. He was the Union Minister of Sports, Chemicals and Fertilisers in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

His son Parminder Singh Dhindsa was a Finance Minister in the Parkash Singh Badal-led SAD-BJP government in Punjab.

In March last year, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa merged his faction, SAD (Sanyukt), with the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led SAD.

The merger came nearly four years after Dhindsa and his son were expelled from the party in February 2020 over alleged anti-party activities. Following their expulsion, the father-son duo had launched SAD (Sanyukt).

Dhindsa Sr once held the influential position of secretary general in the SAD and was widely regarded as the party’s second-in-command after patriarch Parkash Singh Badal.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann also mourned the sad demise of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.

In his condolence message, the Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the senior Akali leader and former union minister, acknowledging his tireless efforts for the welfare of the people. Extending his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family, relatives, and friends, the Chief Minister prayed for the departed soul's eternal peace and for the family members to find strength in this irreparable loss.