'I feel misfit': Anil Joshi resigns from SAD, says party entangled in Panthic politics

Anil Joshi has resigned from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Joshi submitted his resignation to SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar citing “the party’s deviation from its motive”.

Joshi, in his resignation letter, said he found himself ‘misfit’ in the party as it seldom commensurate with the vision that he had carried to join it after quitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021.

He said he has joined SAD as the party then stood for people, farmers and rights of Punjab.

“I joined the SAD with postulation that it aimed to standby the principle of unity and brotherhood unmindful of any caste, religion or creed, under the leadership of five-time former CM Parkash Singh Badal,” he said.

“But after getting into it, especially after Badal Saheb, I realised it to be a farce assumption. The present scenario took such a dismal state of affairs within the party that Sukhbir Singh Badal had to resign from the president's post. It appeared as if the SAD has got the sole agenda to resurrect its position on Panthic parameters and got entangled only in Panthic politics. I find no place for me in the party. My motive was for the overall welfare and development of the people. After introspection, I came to the conclusion that it would be impossible for me to continue in the party and I have requested Bhunder Saheb to accept my resignation,” he said

Anil Joshi was the former local bodies minister during SAD-BJP regime (2012-2017).

A day before, SAD's former MLA from Tarn Taran Harmeet Singh Sandhu had also quit SAD.