Bhunder Blames Majithia for SAD Turmoil

Naresh Sharma 

 Sukhbir Singh Badal is back in the driver’s seat of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). His comeback has stirred more questions than celebration. This is especially true when it comes to how the party deals with internal dissent.

Majithia Spared, Kairon Expelled: Questions Rise in SAD”

At the heart of the storm is the recent expulsion of Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon, Badal’s own brother-in-law, reportedly for anti-party activities. But here’s where things get murky—another close relative, senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who also happens to be Badal’s brother-in-law, hasn’t faced any action despite openly criticizing the party’s decisions. That has left many within and outside the party wondering: Why the double standards?

Adding fuel to the fire, acting SAD president Balwinder Singh Bhunder had publicly voiced his hurt and disappointment in a March 8 statement. Without mincing words, Bhunder called out Majithia for questioning the decisions of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)—the same institution whose first president was Majithia’s great-grandfather, Sundar Singh Majithia.

SAD Bhunder Accuses Majithia of Betraying Sukhbir”

Bhunder stressed that the SGPC’s moves, especially those regarding the Jathedar Sahiban, came after deep thought and discussion. He accused Majithia of worsening the political confusion surrounding the SAD and Sikh leadership. He reminded everyone how deeply Majithia was trusted and supported by the Badal family. In a stinging remark, he claimed Majithia had betrayed Sukhbir. Majithia did not support him during tough times. This was especially evident after the passing of the towering SAD patriarch, Parkash Singh Badal.

Despite his sharp words, Bhunder ended his statement with an unexpected twist. He called for unity. He even suggested that Majithia return to the fold. Bhuder urged everyone to fight against the party’s real enemies: external conspiracies.

That soft landing has raised more than a few eyebrows. If Majithia caused so much harm, why did the party spare him? Why did it expel Kairon but publicly appeal to Majithia for peace?

Sukhbir Badal resumes leadership. He has extended an open invitation to all angry or sidelined leaders. They are encouraged to come back and rebuild the party together. The big question now: Will Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon accept that olive branch and return? Or does this saga reveal a deeper rift in the Akali Dal—one that no press statement can paper over?