Old guard dominates Sukhbir Badal's new team, none close to Majithia
Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday unveiled the party's new organisational structure, appointing key office-bearers and reconstituting the 31-member Core Committee. The reshuffle, announced a day after senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia was arrested in a disproportionate assets case, has brought back several old faces, including leaders with whom Majithia has had open differences.
Balwinder Singh Bhunder has been appointed Secretary General, Daljit Singh Cheema as Secretary, and NK Sharma as Cashier. Sarabjit Singh Jhijhar will head the Youth Akali Dal, Hargobind Kaur the Istri Wing, and Ranbir Singh Rana Dhillon the Students Organisation of India (SOI).
Though projected as a fresh start, the reorganisation features few surprises, with most key positions filled by leaders from the previous set-up. Significantly, none of the appointees are known to be close confidants of Majithia, who remains a member of the Core Committee but appears politically isolated within the top leadership.
The 31-member Core Committee, led by Sukhbir, includes Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Harjinder Singh Dhami, Naresh Gujral, Parmjit Singh Sarna, Hira Singh Gabria, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sikander Singh Maluka, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Manjit Singh GK, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Bikram Singh Majithia, Sucha Singh Langah, Gurbachan Singh Babehali, Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, NK Sharma, Mantar Singh Brar, Baldev Singh Khaira, SR Kler, Joginder Singh Jindu, Teerath Singh Mahla, Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Vardev Singh Mann, Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna, Kamal Chaitly, Harpreet Singh Kotbhai, Sukhdeep Singh Sukar and Darbara Singh Guru.
Five ex-officio members were also named: Harcharan Singh Bains (Media Head), Sarabjit Singh Jhijhar (Youth Akali Dal President), Hargobind Kaur (Istri Wing President), Ranbir Singh Rana Dhillon (SOI President) and Arshdeep Singh Kler (Chief Spokesperson).
The timing of the organisational overhaul, coming just a day after Majithia's arrest, has drawn attention. Adding to the churn is an interview of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on a web channel widely seen as a SAD (B) mouthpiece, in which he spoke on drug smuggling, triggering buzz in political circles.
In a parallel development, the 'Recruitment Committee' formed by Sri Akal Takht Sahib held a meeting on Thursday with Akali Dal Waris Punjab De at the residence of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh.
Members of the Bharti Committee, Bibi Satwant Kaur, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri, Gurpratap Singh Wadala and Iqbal Singh Jhunda, were present at the meeting, along with Daya Singh Lahoria. The five-member Akali Dal Waris Punjab team comprised Tarsem Singh, Faridkot MP Sarbjit Singh Khalsa, Amarjit Singh Banchri, Harbhajan Singh Tur and Surjit Singh Daulatpur.
Akali Dal Waris Punjab welcomed the committee's ongoing efforts to bring Panthic groups together. A joint statement issued after the meeting said both sides would coordinate with other factions committed to Sri Akal Takht Sahib to bring the Panth out of its current crisis and guide it towards progress.
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