Rebel Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali joined the Amritpal Singh-led Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) on Tuesday. He also sought the release of jailed MP Amritpal Singh and other Sikh prisoners known as "Bandi Singhs".
Ayali ruled out any possibility of joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. However, he said he would continue efforts to bring Panthic groups together.
The three-time MLA from Dakha joined the party in the presence of Amritpal Singh's father, Tarsem Singh, and Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa. His move came just days after he resigned from Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), a faction that had broken away from the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led SAD.
Ayali had announced his resignation from all posts in SAD (Punar Surjit) on May 20. After joining the new party, Ayali said he would work actively on issues affecting Punjab, including the release of Bandi Singhs, unemployment and law-and-order concerns. He said many issues related to Punjab and the Sikh community have remained unresolved for years and need to be addressed.
Referring to Amritpal Singh, Ayali said the MP has been in jail for more than three years. He added that even after the National Security Act (NSA) was revoked, Amritpal continues to remain lodged in a jail in Assam.
The term "Bandi Singhs" is used by several Sikh organisations and political groups for Sikh prisoners who, they say, continue to remain in jail despite completing their sentences.
When asked about his political ideology and views on Khalistan, Ayali said he believes in the democratic process and would follow the core principles of the Akali Dal.
On the possibility of various Akali factions coming together before the 2027 Assembly polls, Ayali said he had made several attempts in the past and would continue efforts for Panthic unity.
Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa welcomed Ayali's entry into the party and said his experience and clean public image would strengthen the organisation.
Tarsem Singh also welcomed Ayali and said his son, Amritpal Singh, had been jailed despite not committing any wrongdoing.
He further claimed that although Amritpal was elected as MP from Khadoor Sahib in 2024, he was not given the opportunity to raise public issues in Parliament.
Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) was formed last year. Amritpal Singh is currently lodged in an Assam jail in connection with the 2023 Ajnala police station attack case. He had earlier been detained under the National Security Act.
Ayali was also a member of the committee formed by the Akal Takht to oversee the SAD membership drive in line with directions issued on December 2, 2024. The committee was also tasked with supervising the party's reorganisation process.
Originally, the Akal Takht had set up a seven-member committee, but it later became a five-member panel after two members opted out.
The committee was formed around the same time the Akal Takht announced religious punishment for SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and others for actions taken by the party and its government between 2007 and 2017.
Badal was declared "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct) after several rebel leaders appeared before the Akal Takht in July 2024 and sought forgiveness for mistakes made during the SAD government's tenure.
Ayali had openly opposed the SAD leadership after the party's poor electoral performance. He is currently one of the three SAD MLAs in the 117-member Punjab Assembly.
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