Sukhbir Singh Badal Resigns As Shiromani Akali Dal President

Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had been declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht, tendered his resignation as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president, said senior party leader Daljit Singh Cheema on Saturday.

His resignation paves the way for the election of the new party chief.

Badal submitted his resignation to the party's working committee, said Cheema.

"The SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal submitted his resignation to the working Committee of the party today to pave the way for the election of a new President. He thanked all the party leaders & workers for expressing confidence in his leadership and extending wholehearted support & cooperation throughout the tenure," said Cheema in a post on X.

Badal's resignation came days after he urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to pronounce his punishment for religious misconduct charges, saying more than two months have passed since he was declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct).