Sukhbir Badal’s offer to resign as SAD president

Sukhbir Badal’s offer to resign as SAD president

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today owned moral responsibility for the party’s defeat in the assembly elections and offered his resignation which was firmly rejected by all the district presidents.

The SAD President, who interacted with district presidents yesterday and today besides the senior leadership, said “the party and its well being are supreme for me. I have always acted in the best interests of the party. I own moral responsibility for the party’s defeat and am ready to step down”.

The party leadership however shot down his offer in unison with many district presidents bringing the hard work and intensive election campaign led by Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal on record. A formal resolution was also passed unanimously to express complete confidence in the leadership of Mr Sukhbir Badal. While speaking on the issue, the leaders said not only did Mr Badal lead from the front but also inspired the party leadership as well as the party cadre to give its best. The leaders said though the results were not as per expectations, the party president could not be faulted in any manner whatsoever. “People voted overwhelmingly for change and the entire opposition was swept aside in the resultant tsunami”.

Giving their feedback at the meetings, the SAD grass root leaders said “at many places the voters did not even know the name of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate but voted for AAP while adopting the narrative of ‘badlav’. This cost the SAD dearly”.

Asserting that all was not lost, party leaders said ‘the SAD has the ability to rise like a phoenix from the ashes and Mr Sukhbir Badal would play a lead role in this. The previous SAD governments have created benchmarks for development, infrastructure development and introduction of unique social welfare schemes which are ingrained in the minds of the people. The people even wanted to reward the SAD on the basis of its past track record, especially after the non-performance of the Congress government, but were swayed by the voice of change at the last minute”.

Meanwhile Mr Badal briefed the district presidents that the party would not only take detailed feedback on the election debacle from them and other party functionaries but also people from all walks of life. “A high powered committee is being formed for this purpose. It will hold the requisite meetings to take the necessary feedback and come up with recommendations to rejuvenate the party”.

Meanwhile district presidents also gave their suggestions on panthic issues besides stressing the need to forcefully take up all pending issues of Punjab and ensure their early resolution.