Sukhbir Singh Badal Steps Down as Shiromani Akali Dal Chief, Resignation Accepted

In a significant political development, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has officially accepted Sukhbir Singh Badal's resignation as the president of the party. This decision follows Badal's voluntary step down from his position in of the previous year, consequent to being labeled 'tankhaiya', a term signifying guilt of religious misconduct, by the Akal Takht. His resignation marks an end to his leadership role, which he was urged to relinquish after being held responsible for various controversial decisions made during his tenure.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, in a statement, expressed his gratitude towards the party's workers and leadership for their unwavering support throughout his five-year tenure as president. He disclosed that his resignation was initially not accepted by the working committee for certain reasons. However, he persisted in resigning to facilitate the election of a new party chief. “The delegate session of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) gave me a huge responsibility of being the president of the party and serving the party. In the last five years, I did whatever was possible towards serving the party. I thank the workers and leadership who supported me. Since I have completed 5 years, I appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib...I presented my resignation before the working committee. But they did not accept my resignation due to some reasons. So, I appeared before them especially so that a new party chief could be elected," Badal remarked following the acceptance of his resignation.

Daljit Singh Cheema, on behalf of the party, shared via a post on X in November, that Badal submitted his resignation to clear the path for the election of a new president. He praised Badal for his leadership and acknowledged the support and cooperation he received from the party during his leadership. “The SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal submitted his resignation to the working committee of the party today to pave the way for the election of a new president. He thanked all the party leaders and workers for expressing confidence in his leadership and extending wholehearted support and cooperation throughout his tenure," Cheema noted.

The backdrop of Badal's resignation was his request to the Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Raghbir Singh, for a pronouncement of his religious misconduct punishment, more than two months after being declared 'tankhaiya'. This request came in the wake of accusations against the SAD and its governance in Punjab from 2007 to 2017, which led Badal to distance himself from active party leadership in August of the previous year, delegating duties to the working committee led by senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhundar. On November 16, he officially stepped down ahead of receiving his religious punishment from the Akal Takht.

Following his acknowledgment of "wrong political decisions," Badal made a poignant appearance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in December of the prior year, wheelchair-bound, with a plaque around his neck signifying his admitted misdeeds, and holding a spear. The Akal Takht's punishment for the SAD leaders included performing humble tasks such as cleaning washrooms and washing utensils at the temple, stemming from the controversy of granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2015.