A faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal, rebelling against the current leadership, has appointed Giani Harpreet Singh, the former Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, as their president. The rebels are planning to assert their claim over the party’s leadership before the Election Commission.
The schism emerged after Sukhbir Badal was declared a ‘tankhaiya’ by Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The Akal Takht had formed a five-member committee to conduct a new membership drive and determine the next president. However, the Shiromani Akali Dal circumvented this committee, launched its own membership drive, and proceeded to announce Sukhbir Badal as the party president.