Chandigarh: Senior Akali leader and former MP Professor Prem Singh Chandumajra on Wednesday announced his resignation from the Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), dealing another blow to the Giani Harpreet Singh-led breakaway faction months ahead of the Punjab assembly elections, Jugti and Punjab E News reported. He is likely to return to the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), according to Hindustan Times.

Source: Jugti

Chandumajra said the coming together of all Akali and Panthic groups on a common platform to safeguard the interests of Punjab and the Panth is the need of the hour. He said the public response of SAD (Punar Surjit) president Giani Harpreet Singh to his appeal for Panthic unity made him realise that their thinking, ideology and working style were not aligned, and he had therefore decided to part ways with the faction. His commitment to the Panth, Punjab, Punjabiat and the rights of Punjab remained firm, he added. He had hinted at the move on Tuesday, calling for Panthic unity and urging all Panthic leaders to contest the elections under a single symbol.

Source: Jugti

SAD welcomes the move; Punar Surjit camp calls it unfortunate

The Badal-led SAD welcomed Chandumajra's resignation and his call for Panthic unity. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the party's election manifesto committee, SAD leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder said Chandumajra had decided to work for the betterment of Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiat. Bhunder urged all Panthic leaders to unite under the SAD umbrella and hoped senior leaders who had left the party in the past would rejoin it in the coming days.

Source: Jugti

Within the Punar Surjit camp, senior leader Gurpartap Singh Wadala described the resignation as unfortunate. He said Chandumajra appeared to have taken the decision in haste and under pressure following the defection of his political rival, Sanour MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, from the AAP to the BJP. Pathanmajra, who contested the 2022 assembly elections on an AAP ticket, defeated SAD candidate Harinder Pal Singh Chandumajra, son of Prem Singh Chandumajra, from the Sanour constituency by a margin of 49,112 votes.

Source: Punjab E News

A faction losing its founders

SAD (Punar Surjit) was formed on 11 August 2025 by rebel Akali leaders who split from the Badal-led SAD after campaigning for Sukhbir Singh Badal's resignation and fresh elections for the party presidency. Chandumajra was among the leaders who spearheaded that campaign and helped set up the faction. He is the latest in a string of senior departures: former minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, Barjinder Singh Brar, Charanjit Singh Brar and former Dhuri MLA Iqbal Singh Jhundan all quit in July. Rakhra later joined the AAP, Barjinder Singh Brar returned to the SAD, Charanjit Singh Brar joined the BJP, and Ayali and Jhundan are now leading the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De in the absence of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh.

Source: Punjab E News

Has Chandumajra rejoined the SAD?

Not yet in any announcement reported so far. Hindustan Times reported he is likely to return to the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led SAD, and the SAD has publicly welcomed his resignation from the rebel faction and his call for Panthic unity, but no formal rejoining has been announced. What happens next will turn on whether that return is formalised and whether more of the faction's remaining leaders follow him — each move reshapes the Akali contest for Punjab's Panthic vote ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.

Source: Jugti