Prem Singh Chandumajra quits SAD Punar Surjit and may rejoin Badal faction

Akali leader and former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra resigned from the Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) on Wednesday. His exit creates a setback for the Giani Harpreet Singh-led breakaway group as Punjab assembly polls approach. Chandumajra is expected to return to the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal. In his resignation, he stated that all Akali and Panthic groups must come together on a common platform to protect the interests of Punjab and the Panth. He added that SAD (Punar Surjit) president Giani Harpreet Singh's response to his appeal for Panthic unity showed that their thinking, ideology, and working style do not match. Several other leaders have already left SAD (Punar Surjit) before Chandumajra's resignation. Former minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, former MLA Iqbal Singh Jhundan, and Barjinder Singh Brar previously quit the party. Rakhra joined the Aam Aadmi Party, Ayali joined Akali Dal Waris De, and Brar went back to the Akali Dal. Rebel Akali leaders formed SAD (Punar Surjit) last year because they opposed the leadership of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. SAD welcomed Chandumajra's decision to resign and his call for Panthic unity. Speaking to reporters after an election manifesto committee meeting, SAD leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder said Chandumajra chose to work for the good of Punjab, Punjabis, and Punjabiat. Bhunder asked all Panthic leaders to unite under the SAD banner and urged other senior leaders who left in the past to return to their mother party.

Context

Political realignments often happen in Punjab ahead of major elections as leaders shift between different factions of regional parties. The Shiromani Akali Dal has historically played a central role in state politics, leading to periodic splits and re-mergers among factions seeking to consolidate their political base.