Amritsar, September 3
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh was today re-elected as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president for a second term. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was re-elected party patron.

Sukhbir said his top priority would now be to expand his party’s base in other states with Punjabi-speaking population.

Interacting with mediapersons, Sukhbir said the SAD would contest elections in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other states having Punjabi-speaking population.

“We will venture into states having a sizeable number of Punjabis, as the SAD truly represents the feelings and aspirations of the Punjabis irrespective of where they live,” he said. The party is yet to take a decision on a possible tie-up in Uttar Pradesh, he said. The party already has an alliance with the BJP in New Delhi and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana. “We will cross the bridge when we reach there.” The SAD would contest six seats in the forthcoming Delhi Assembly elections, he said.

The party would set up offices in each district of Punjab over the next one and a half years. “We will also put in place a monitoring system to ensure workers meet every month in all districts,” Sukhbir said.

Earlier, around 445 party delegates re-elected Sukhbir as the SAD chief at the SGPC headquarters. SAD leader Ranjeet Singh Brahmpura proposed Sukhbir’s name for the top post, which was seconded by SAD secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.

Senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder proposed Parkash Singh Badal’s name as the party patron, which was unanimously approved by the delegates. The delegates gave all rights for the organisational setup of the party to the president.

Sukhbir became the youngest president of the party at 46 when he was first elected to the post in 2008.