Amid rebellion, SAD calls delegate session in November to decide long-term future agenda

Chandigarh, August 6

Amid rebellion by a section of the party leaders, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday decided to hold a three-day delegate session at Sri Anandpur Sahib in the first week of November to prepare its long-term future agenda.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the party's core committee, which was presided over by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The committee decided the delegate session will deliberate on important issues, including ‘injustices perpetrated’ on Punjab as well as issues of health, education, environment, non-resident Indian community and ways and means to strengthen federalism, said party leader Daljit Singh Cheema here.

The announcement of holding the delegation session came days after the rebel party leaders had announced to call the delegate session for the election of new party president and new office-bearers of the party in order to "revive" the SAD.

There are around 500 delegates of the party who have the right to vote for the election of office-bearers.

A section of party leaders, including former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra and ex-Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, have revolted against Badal, asking him to step down as the party chief following the party's debacle in the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab.