Overview
- The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is conducting internal elections at the SGPC headquarters in Amritsar, with 567 delegates representing 117 constituencies participating.
- Sukhbir Singh Badal is anticipated to be re-elected as party president, following his resignation after an Akal Takht directive for leadership reform in December 2024.
- The election process has faced criticism from rebel factions and external voices, citing alleged transparency issues and violations of religious directives from the Akal Takht.
- Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and several Sikh organizations have called for the Election Commission to halt the process, raising concerns over the use of religious premises for political activities.
- SAD leaders frame the leadership contest as pivotal for the party’s revival and preparation for the 2027 state elections, emphasizing its 105-year legacy in Punjab’s political and religious landscape.