Sukhbir Badal is SAD acting president

Chandigarh, Mar 11 (UNI) The 31-member Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today 'unanmiously' appointed Lok Sabha member Sukhbir Singh Badal as acting president of the party.

Mr Badal representing the Fairdkot Parliamentary consitituency is the son of Punjab Chief Minister and SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal. He was the general secretary of the party and had effectively managed the party's campaign in the February assembly polls.

The PAC at its meeting today accepted Mr Badal's request that as Chief Minister of Punjab, he may not be in a position to effectively discharge his duties as party president.

Considering the request, the party's senior vice president Ranjit Singh Brahmapura moved a resolution in the PAC for appointment of Sukhbir Badal as acting president. The resolution was seconded by senior leaders Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Gurdev Singh Badal and then it was passed unanimously.

The PAC while passing the resolution, praised Sukbir Badal for his role in the assembly elections.

Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, while thanking the PAC, said his foremost task would be to strenghten the party cadre. The voice of the party cadre's would be put before the government, he said while elaborating that the workers and activists of the party were responsible for the victory of SAD-BJP in the elections.

The Chief Minister, on his part, assured the PAC members that his government would give due consideration to the problems of the party's workers. ''The government will be guided by the party activists and their problems will be taken care off,'' he said.

In an inter action with mediapersons after the PAC meeting, the Chief Minister said that a Coordination Committee consisting of members of the SAD and BJP would be formed soon for guiding the state government.

UNI