A day after former MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa asserted authority as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron and his declaration of the expulsions of eight rebel leaders as “unconstitutional”, the Akali Dal has taken decisive action by expelling him from the party. The decision, taken by the SAD’s disciplinary committee, underscored the party's commitment to maintain discipline and unity within its ranks.

SAD's disciplinary committee, chaired by former MP Balwinder Singh Bhundur and with Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Gulzar Singh Ranike as its members, made the unanimous decision to expel Dhindsa from the primary membership of the party. The committee cited Dhindsa’s anti-party activities, including his support for the expelled leaders and his unauthorized actions that violated the party's constitution.

Grewal, during the media briefing, explained the rationale behind the decision, stating that Dhindsa was not upholding the honour of his post. “He was not only issuing unauthorized statements but was also acting against the party’s constitution and its rich and glorious traditions,” Grewal said. The disciplinary committee considered Dhindsa’s recent statements and his attempt to support the eight expelled leaders in their rebellion against the party's leadership.

Bhundur, the disciplinary committee chairman, emphasized that the party had made numerous attempts to address the concerns of the disgruntled leaders. “The party invited all the disgruntled leaders to attend meetings and discuss their grievances within the party forum,” Bhundur noted. However, instead of engaging constructively, these leaders chose to participate in a conspiracy aimed at weakening and dividing the party. Bhundur highlighted that these actions were in direct contradiction to the party’s principles and the teachings of the SAD’s founding leaders.

The disciplinary committee stressed that the expelled leaders had aligned themselves with forces attempting to undermine the party’s integrity. Bhundur pointed out that these leaders had even lent credence to the allegations made by the main perpetrator of the 2015 sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. When the party took appropriate disciplinary action against them, Dhindsa attempted to intervene and mislead the party cadre by asserting his authority as the patron. This intervention, according to the committee, necessitated a strong response to preserve the party's unity and discipline.

SAD's leadership reaffirmed its commitment to party discipline and the leadership of Sukhbir Singh Badal. The disciplinary committee members reiterated that they were acting in accordance with the party’s constitution and under the powers vested in them by the Working Committee. They noted that 98 percent of the Working Committee members had expressed their confidence in Sukhbir Badal’s leadership, underscoring the broad support for the party's direction and policies.

Grewal clarified the honourary nature of the patron's role, stating that it did not confer any decision-making powers. He dismissed Dhindsa’s claims of initiating a reform movement within the party, describing them as misleading and unfounded. Grewal cited historical instances where Dhindsa had taken similar disciplinary actions against other leaders, highlighting the inconsistency in Dhindsa’s current stance.

Grewal also criticized another expelled leader, Prem Singh Chandumajra, for his opportunistic demands and past actions that had undermined the party's interests. Grewal pointed out that Chandumajra had previously supported contentious actions, such as approving Operation Black Thunder in 1985 and endorsing the “maafi” given to the Dera Sirsa head. He noted that Chandumajra’s loyalty to the party leadership was conditional on his personal demands being met, which included securing multiple assembly seats for his family and a Lok Sabha ticket for himself.