In another major setback for Akali Dal (SAD), Akali leader Gurcharan Singh Channi has resigned from the party and joined Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This follows recent announcement of senior member and ex-MLA, Pawan Kumar Tinu, also leaving SAD to join AAP ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
This signifies a tumultuous atmosphere in SAD as several other leaders also left the party, As per Channi’s resignation, the party faces serious issues of leadership and internal politics. His letter of resignation went on to say that the party has moved too far away from its core values and democratic structure.
Channi is the Chairman of the District Planning Committee and District President (urban) of SAD. Channi had quit SAD in 2016 but had rejoined recently. However, he did not get the space he had been expecting again. Channi had served more than 30 years as a loyal member of the party, however, as per his resignation letter, he was left disillusioned about the party’s future, “its ability to properly serve Punjab and its people”.
Two major SAD players shifted teams this Sunday right before the Lok Sabha Elections, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann is expected to announce the rest of the Punjab LS election candidates for AAP on April 16th.