Sukhwinder Sukhi Resigns Over Saroop Controversy
Sukhwinder Sukhi announced his resignation on Facebook this Sunday. The AAP leader held a Cabinet rank position. He stepped down as chairman of the Punjab State Container and Warehousing Corporation. Sukhi expressed deep hurt over the ongoing saroop controversy.
The Saroop Dispute
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recently stated that 169 saroops were found at Rasokhana Nabh Kanwal Raja Sahib Gurdwara in Banga. This discovery came during an inquiry into 328 missing saroops. Sukhi has long been associated with this religious place. He firmly asserted that no disrespect to any saroop of Shri Guru Granth Sahib ever occurred there.
Sukhi called for a fact-based resolution to the matter. He urged political parties to avoid politicizing faith issues. The leader plans to convince Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and AAP leadership about the gurdwara's sanctity.
Political Journey Through Parties
Sukhwinder Sukhi's political path reflects broader realignments in Punjab's Doaba region. He began his career during the Kanshi Ram era with BSP. Sukhi served as general secretary of its student wing. His father, a retired tehsildar, also joined BSP and contested the Nawanshahr Assembly seat in 2002.
Following internal differences, Sukhi switched to Shiromani Akali Dal in 2012. The party appointed him Chairman of the Punjab Planning Board. He won the Banga Assembly seat in 2017 as an SAD candidate. Sukhi retained this seat in 2022 despite SAD's poor electoral performance.
In August 2024, Sukhi formally joined the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. This move created significant ripples in Punjab's opposition circles. AAP quickly appointed him CONWARE chairman with Cabinet rank. The party aimed to strengthen its Doaba presence through his clean image and Dalit connections.
Electoral Performance and Current Status
Sukhi contested the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat on a BSP ticket in 2009. He polled over 1.05 lakh votes in that election. During the 2023 Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll, SAD fielded him as their candidate. He lost to AAP's Sushil Rinku in that contest.
Technically, Sukhi remains an SAD MLA despite joining AAP. He submitted his resignation from SAD, but the Assembly has not formally accepted it. Opposition leaders criticize this situation. They argue he should first resign as MLA since he no longer subscribes to SAD's ideology.
Background and Professional Life
Born on December 6, 1960, in Gunachaur village of Nawanshahr district, Sukhi is an ENT specialist. He earned his medical degree from DMC Ludhiana. The doctor-turned-politician runs his own hospital in Nawanshahr. Sukhi continues his medical practice alongside political activities.
Banga Constituency Dynamics
The Banga Assembly constituency presents a complex political landscape. This reserved SC seat has around 1.64 lakh voters with a sizable Dalit population. Key issues include village-level development gaps, unemployment, and drug menace. Infrastructure projects like the new 3-km flyover have received mixed reactions from residents.
Voters here have repeatedly shown preference for individuals over party labels. Sukhi's consistent electoral performance made him politically valuable across parties.
Broader Political Implications
Sukhi's case tests whether AAP can absorb traditional party leaders without diluting its anti-establishment image. For SAD, his exit highlights the party's shrinking Doaba footprint and struggle to retain influential figures. Punjab's political landscape continues evolving rapidly.
Observers will closely watch Sukhi's next moves inside and outside the Assembly. His journey from BSP to SAD to AAP mirrors the ongoing churn in Punjab politics, particularly in the crucial Doaba region.
