Following the controversial Jalandhar meeting where Sukhbir Badal's leadership was challenged, Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has come forward in defense of her husband, saying that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is fully united with Sukhbir.
"The entire Shiromani Akali Dal is united and is standing with Sukhbir Badal. Some of the stooges of the BJP are trying to break SAD. They want to do the same as they did in Maharashtra” said the Bathinda MP, likely recalling the tumultuous splitting of Shiv Sena.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the SAD is united and that they are going to fail. “Out of the 117 leaders, only 5 leaders are against Sukhbir Badal while 112 leaders are standing with the party and Sukhbir Badal" she further highlighted.
Talking about the 5 leaders, she claimed that these ‘BJP stooges’ are aiming towards splitting the party and will be unsuccessful in their efforts. “First’s family fought the elections (Lok Sabha) on the BJP ticket, second fought the SGPC elections with BJP’s help, third’s brother is in BJP and fourth has been going in and out of the party to join BJP” she said.
It is pertinent to note that the Jalandhar meeting was attended by Sikandar Singh Maluka, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Bibi Jagir Kaur and Prem Singh Chandumajra. Maluka’s daughter-in-law, Parampal Sidhu had contested the Lok Sabha elections against Badal in the Bathinda constituency on the BJP ticket.
Another meeting was held at SAD headquarters chaired by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, where 96 out of 105 halka incharges (with 12 halkas yet to get incharges appointed) showed full faith in his leadership.