NEW DELHI: The working committee of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday accepted the resignation of Sukhbir Singh Badal as party president, according to party officials. This decision followed the directive of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh in early December, urging the SAD to implement the December 2 edict on Badal’s resignation.
The acceptance took place during a working committee meeting at the party headquarters.
After accepting his resignation, Badal expressed his gratitude to the workers and leaders of the party for their support.
Previously, when Badal submitted his resignation on November 16, 2023, the working committee refused to accept it, urging him to reconsider and threatening him with a collective resignation if he persisted.
Akal Takht’s December 2 pronouncement, which addressed religious punishment for Badal and other leaders regarding the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017, specifically directed the working committee to accept Badal’s resignation as party chief.
On 30 August 2023, Akal Takht, the supreme temporal authority of the Sikhs, declared Badal’tankhaiya‘ for religious misconduct. He later completed the prescribed religious penance.