Ayali quits SAD (Punar Surjit), says won’t join parties ‘run from Delhi’

Chandigarh: The rebel SAD MLA from Dakha, Manpreet Singh Ayali, on Wednesday resigned from Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), deepening the crisis within the breakaway Akali faction formed last year.Ayali also quit the Panthic unity coordination committee, which he headed and which was formed to explore an alliance between SAD (Punar Surjit) and jailed MP Amritpal Singh-led SAD (Waris Punjab De). The alliance talks collapsed earlier this month.Announcing his resignation, Ayali said leaders who, according to the Akal Takht hukamnama, had "lost the moral right" to lead the Panth became part of SAD (Punar Surjit), hurting the party's credibility among the masses.Without naming anyone, he said such leaders should have stayed away from party affairs for some time in keeping with the spirit of the Akal Takht directive.Ayali praised Amritpal Singh's anti-drug campaign and Khalsa Vaheer initiative, but ruled out joining any party "run from Delhi", naming AAP, BJP and Congress. He also said he would not return to SAD.The Dakha MLA said he had opposed formation of a splinter Akali faction from the beginning, arguing that the Akal Takht had called for a united Akali Dal, not separate groups.SAD (Punar Surjit) secretary general Gurpartap Singh Wadala dismissed Ayali's allegations, accusing him of working "at cross purposes" after Giani Harpreet Singh became party president. Wadala claimed Ayali tilted towards SAD (Waris Punjab De) and tried to derail alliance talks.Ayali's exit comes amid a string of desertions from SAD (Punar Surjit), with several leaders either returning to the SAD or joining rival parties, including AAP and BJP.