Shiromani Akali Dal Faces Crisis: Rebuilding the Party and Leadership Challenges Loom Large

Shiromani Akali Dal Faces Crisis: Rebuilding the Party and Leadership Challenges Loom Large
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is grappling with a significant political crisis, as the party struggles to regain its footing in Punjab’s political landscape. After a series of electoral defeats and internal leadership issues, the road ahead for SAD is anything but easy. The challenge of rebuilding the party and its lost support base has become increasingly daunting, especially with a faction of the party pushing for reforms.

Sukhbir Badal’s Resignation and the Path Forward
Sukhbir Badal’s recent resignation from the presidency of SAD is seen as an attempt to regain political ground after his party’s continued poor performance in elections. Despite this gesture, SAD faces an uphill battle to restore its organizational strength. The exit of several senior leaders, many of whom have now joined rival factions, has further weakened the party’s leadership.

A growing faction within the party, known as the “Reform Wave,” has been openly critical of SAD’s leadership and is pushing for substantial changes. Leaders like Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, and Bibi Jagir Kaur have emerged as key figures of this reformist group, further splintering the already fragile party structure. SAD’s leadership has been forced to expel several of these prominent figures in a bid to maintain unity.

Electoral Decline and Loss of Vote Share
SAD’s electoral performance has been on a consistent decline since the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections, where it saw a drastic reduction in seats from 68 to just 18. This downward trend continued in subsequent elections, with the party securing only 2 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and a mere 3 seats in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. The 2024 general elections were even worse, as SAD managed to win just 1 seat, signaling a sharp drop in its vote share.

The party’s struggle to retain its support base, coupled with a fractured leadership, has created a perfect storm for SAD. The recent exits of key figures, including former ministers and legislators, have only deepened the crisis.

Calls for Party Restructuring and Leadership Change
Former Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur has suggested that the party should first form a five-member committee to oversee the restructuring of the party before holding elections for the president’s post. She emphasized that any leadership changes should be conducted fairly and only after proper reorganization of the party structure.

Meanwhile, the Reform Wave faction has announced plans to hold a meeting soon to discuss its next steps and chart out a strategy for SAD’s revival.

With the party’s internal struggles, external challenges, and declining support base, the road ahead for the Shiromani Akali Dal appears to be fraught with difficulties. It remains to be seen if the party can recover its lost ground or if further fragmentation lies ahead.