Chandigarh: Speculation over a possible reunification within the Shiromani Akali Dal gained momentum after a video showing senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia interacting with dissident leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra and Surjit Singh Rakhra in Chandigarh surfaced on social media on Tuesday.
The viral clip captures the leaders exchanging greetings in the lobby of a building where they had arrived for a scheduled appearance before a Chandigarh court in connection with an old protest related case.
According to people present at the spot, Chandumajra initiated the interaction while Majithia was attending a phone call and greeted him warmly, addressing him as “Majhe de Jarnail”. Majithia immediately ended the call and reciprocated the gesture before both leaders moved aside for a brief conversation. Rakhra later joined them and was also seen sharing a cordial exchange with Majithia.
Chandumajra and Rakhra had earlier spearheaded the breakaway Akali faction functioning under the banner of ‘Punar Surjit’, formed with the backing of former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh in opposition to the Badal led leadership of the party.
The development has drawn political attention as Majithia, after securing bail in the disproportionate assets case, had stated that his focus would be on strengthening the SAD cadre and reaching out to dissident Akali leaders to bring them back onto a common platform.
Clarifying the viral interaction, Chandumajra said the meeting was purely coincidental and not a planned political discussion. He said all three leaders had gathered for a court appearance in a five year old case related to a protest held near the residence of the then Punjab Chief Minister when they were still part of the united SAD.
However, he maintained that unity among Akali leaders was necessary to strengthen the party and safeguard Punjab’s interests. He said coming together unconditionally would be a positive step, though no formal proposal for reconciliation had been initiated so far. He also referred to the December 2, 2024 directives of the Akal Takht which had called for resolving internal differences to consolidate the Akali organisation.
Meanwhile, senior Akali dissident Karnail Singh Panjouli announced his resignation from the ‘Punar Surjit’ group, citing differences with its leadership. Panjouli, a former general secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, had earlier opposed the Badal leadership and was among those who conducted a parallel membership drive aimed at reviving the party structure.
The viral video and recent political developments have intensified discussions over possible realignment within Akali ranks as efforts to rebuild the party organisation continue ahead of upcoming political challenges in Punjab.
