No Badal at the helm of SAD for the first time in more than 30 years as Sukhbir Singh Badal quits | India News – Times of India

More than two months later Akal Takht – the highest temporary seat of Sikhs – declared Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal ‘tankhaiya’, or guilty of religious misconduct. He sent his resignation to the party’s working committee on Saturday.
Badal, 62, has stepped down ahead of the elections for the post of party chairman, office bearers and working committee members, which will be held on December 14.
This is the first time in over three decades that SAD has not had Badal at the helm.
SAD to discuss dismissal at tomorrow’s meeting
Though late Parkash Singh Badal remained CM twice till 1980, he was not party chief during that period. SAD official Daljit Singh Cheema said Sukhbir Singh Badal has resigned to pave the way for a new president.
The party’s working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder has convened a working committee meeting on November 18 to consider Badal’s resignation. A day before he was declared ‘tankhaiya’, Sukhbir had appointed Bhunder as the party’s working president.
While some see the move as an attempt to regain credibility, others see it as a response to pressure from Sikh high priests and internal dissent.