SAD 1920 and our new political party will contest SGPC elections together: Punjab minister

Former Union minister and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa is ready to float his own political outfit. After Dhindsa quit all Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) posts last year, raising

questions

on party leadership and ‘undemocratic party system’, the party had expelled him and his MLA son Parminder Singh from its membership in February this year. Dhindsa talks to

Sanjeev Verma

on his plans ahead.


Are you going to float a new political outfit or would you work with SAD (Taksali)?

We are going to come up with a new political party along with the SAD (Taksali) leaders. Other likeminded parties and leaders can also join us. We could not hold a meeting with SAD (Taksali) president Ranjit Singh Brahmpura as he is admitted in

PGI

, Chandigarh. We would be having this meeting soon.

What is your strategy? Have you finalised name of the new political outfit?
We are first approaching those people who left SAD and either joined a political party or are still independent. We want to bring the Akali Dal back on the same platform, with the basic panthic ideology for which it was constituted. The name of the new party would be finalised in a meeting to be held in the first or second week of July, after all like-minded people come together on the same platform.

Have you also approached SAD 1920 party headed by Ravi Inder Singh?

Yes. But their main focus is to contest the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections and no other election. As of now, it is confirmed that SAD 1920 and our new political party would contest SGPC polls together. Only time will tell whether they also want to walk with us politically for other elections.

Are you going to take up with the Centre the issue of holding SGPC elections in time?

Naturally, we are going to do that soon. SGPC elections are due next year and it is a time consuming process. First, the Centre would have to appoint

the gurdwara election commission

and its chairperson. Then objections would be invited on electoral rolls before finalising everything. So the whole process takes seven-eight months. Everything had come to a standstill due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Have you also talked to BJP? Or, has BJP approached you?

No. I have not had any talks with BJP till date.

Can your party work with BJP if it gets itself separated from SAD? Or, is there a possibility of working with AAP?

First of all, we would focus on strengthening our party. I cannot say anything right now. But, if the situation demands, we can work with any party other than Congress and the Badals. Almost two years are left for the state assembly elections. If any party wants to work with us in Punjab and there is such a requirement, we are open to it. But generally such things happen threefour months before the elections.

What about talks with Congress MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu?

We would welcome anyone who is leaving Congress or the Badals. We want people who want to work for the welfare and larger interest of Punjab or those who want to see the Akali Dal in its original form, for which it was constituted.