A significant development unfolded in Punjab's political landscape as a splinter group of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) took a decisive step towards formalizing its separate identity. On Wednesday, a delegation from the breakaway faction approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi, seeking official registration as a new regional political party named 'Shiromani Akali Dal Punjab'.
The Formal Application and Delegation
The delegation, which met Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu at the Nirvachan Sadan office, included prominent leaders: former Lok Sabha MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former Punjab finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, and former MLA Gaganjit Singh Barnala. All three are members of the faction's recently announced 25-member political affairs committee. They submitted an application in accordance with the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951, and the Election Symbol Order, 1966.
The application stated that the proposed party aims to represent the democratic, social, economic, and cultural aspirations of Punjab's people, with a focus on safeguarding the interests of farmers, workers, youth, women, and minority communities. It pledged to function within the constitutional framework, upholding secularism, democracy, and national integrity through peaceful and lawful political activities.
Behind the Name Change and Legal Tussle
This move comes nearly five months after the faction appointed Giani Harpreet Singh, the former acting jathedar of Akal Takht, as its chief on August 11. Initially, the group had asserted itself as the "real Akali Dal." However, a senior leader cited "legal entanglements" as the reason for opting for a new name and symbol. The delegation informed the ECI that the party's constitution, list of office-bearers, and other required documents would be submitted within two weeks.
The decision to register under a new name marks a shift from Giani Harpreet Singh's initial announcement after his election, where he stated the faction would retain the original 'Shiromani Akali Dal' name and seek control of the party office and its election symbol, the scale (Takri). The established SAD has dismissed these claims, asserting that as the duly registered party with the ECI, any such claim by another faction is legally untenable.
Immediate Electoral Compulsions and Future Unity Efforts
Speaking after submitting the application, Prem Singh Chandumajra clarified that the registration was a pragmatic step necessitated by upcoming elections. He pointed out that while efforts for a united Akali Dal, as directed by the Akal Takht on December 2, are ongoing, the immediate need for a recognized party symbol to contest municipal corporation and committee elections prompted the move. "For the time being, we are getting the party registered in the name of SAD Punjab. Our efforts for a united Akali Dal will continue," Chandumajra stated over the phone.
Echoing the urgency, Parminder Dhindsa highlighted that the lack of a registered symbol had already cost them in recent zila parishad and block samiti elections. "We could not contest... as the party was not registered," Dhindsa said. The ECI has provided the faction with a list of free symbols, which they will now analyze before making a recommendation for their new political identity.
This formal split and the quest for a new symbol underscore the deep divisions within the 104-year-old party, setting the stage for a renewed political contest in Punjab with two entities claiming the Akali legacy.
