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Amritsar, In a significant political development within Punjab’s Sikh leadership, the Akal Takht-appointed five-member committee on Monday unanimously elected Giani Harpreet Singh as president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in a delegate session held at Gurdwara Burj Akali Phoola Singh, Amritsar. Alongside him, Satwant Kaur was chosen as chairperson of the newly-formed Panthic Council, a body created to guide the faction’s ideological and organisational direction.
Giani Harpreet Singh, former acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht and ex-Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, is known for his fiery speeches and grassroots connect. Notably, he is the first leader of any Akali Dal faction from the Scheduled Caste community, marking a symbolic shift in the party’s leadership structure. His elevation comes amid a call to revive the original Akali Dal of 1920, with the announcement that he will not contest electoral positions himself, instead focusing on organisational rebuilding.
Satwant Kaur brings her own legacy to the role — she is the daughter of Amrik Singh, the former head of the All India Sikh Students Federation, who was killed during Operation Bluestar in 1984.
The meeting saw the presence of veteran Akali leaders including Bibi Jagir Kaur and Gobind Singh Longowal (both former SGPC presidents) as well as Prem Singh Chandumajra, signalling strong support for the process. The poll was conducted under the supervision of Santa Singh Umaidpuri as election officer, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) duly notified. Other committee members include Manpreet Singh Ayali, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, and Iqbal Singh Jhunda.
The Akal Takht had constituted this panel on December 2, 2024, following a public edict, in response to the SAD’s weakening electoral performance. The committee was tasked with holding a membership drive and organisational elections. On the same day last year, Giani Harpreet Singh, along with other Sikh clergy, had declared SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and senior leaders tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct).
However, the mainstream SAD has rejected the Takht-backed committee, opting for its own membership drive and re-electing Sukhbir Singh Badal as party president in April. This parallel leadership structure now sets the stage for a possible showdown — politically and legally — as the Takht-backed faction plans to approach the ECI for recognition as the “original” Shiromani Akali Dal.
