Punjab News: Veteran Leader Sikandar Singh Maluka Rejoins Shiromani Akali Dal Ahead Of Crucial Ludhiana West Bypoll
Chandigarh: Veteran Akali leader and former Cabinet minister Sikandar Singh Maluka, who was expelled from party for rebelling against party leadership last year was re-inducted into Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) by party chief Sukhbir Badal on Saturday.
His return is expected to bolster the party's campaign for June 19 Ludhiana west bypoll. A two-time MLA from Maluka, once a close aide of the Badals, had served the party's citdadel Bathinda district for 28 years and was also head of its disciplinary committee.
Sukhbir Badal post on X: "It gives me immense pleasure to welcome veteran Akali leader S Sikandar Singh Maluka back to the Shiromani Akali Dal. Maluka Sahab has significantly contributed to strengthening the party under the leadership of S Parkash Singh ji Badal. His return will further strengthen the party, and he will immediately join the party’s campaign in the Ludhiana West Assembly constituency. With the support of the people of Punjab @Akali Dal is growing stronger with each passing day…’’.
Maluka was expelled for anti-party activities along with Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) ex-president Bibi Jagir Kaur, former SAD MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former ministers Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Surjit Singh Rakhra and some other leaders. The expulsion came a day after the rebel leaders announced a 13-member group to strengthen the Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar (a reform movement).
The rebel leaders had also approached the Sikhs’ highest temporal seat Akal Takht seeking a pardon for mistakes committed during SAD-BJP government’s two terms from 2007-2017.
Maluka’s daughter-in-law, Parampal Kaur Sidhu, a former IAS officer, had also unsuccessfully fought the Lok Sabha election from Bathinda on BJP ticket against Harsimrat Kaur Badal. His difference with SAD had started after his son, Gurpreet Singh, was denied the SAD ticket from Rampura Phul constituency in the 2022 assembly polls.
For record, while the ruling Aap Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded its Rajya Sabha member Sanjeev Arora, Congress has fielded its senior leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu, who finished second in 2022 polls, the SAD, Parupkar Singh Ghuman and the BJP has fielded its senior leader Jiwan Gupta, for the Ludhiana West seat by-election.
The seat had fallen vacant following the demise of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi on January 11, this year. He died at his home of a gunshot after his licensed weapon accidentally went off. The counting of votes will take place on June 23.
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