Sukhbir Singh Badal Re-Elected as SAD President Amid Efforts to Revive Party Fortunes

In a significant political development, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has re-elected Sukhbir Singh Badal as its president during an organisational election held at Teja Singh Samundari Hall. The move marks Sukhbir’s return to the top post after he stepped down on November 16, 2024, following a religious reprimand by the Akal Takht, which declared him a tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct).

Party insiders confirmed that Sukhbir was both the “favourite” and “sole candidate” for the role, making his re-election a unanimous decision following the culmination of a three-month-long membership drive.

Sukhbir first assumed leadership of the SAD in December 2008, during the tenure of his father, former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He was initially celebrated for introducing a corporate-style structure to the party, but internal discontent grew after a series of electoral setbacks beginning with the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections.

Once a dominant political force in Punjab, the SAD saw a steep decline in its influence—losing power in 2017, securing only three seats in the 2022 Assembly polls, and managing just one Member of Parliament in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Sukhbir’s return is seen as an attempt to rejuvenate the party and reclaim its traditional vote bank.