It was the big decision of Shiromani Akali Dal – Badal Shiromani Akali Dal (B) to raise the issue of release of ‘Bandi Singhs’ (Sikh prisoners) for its own political revival after the party’s near path in the last assembly elections, But Kamaldeep Kaur Rajona, sister of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh assassination convict Balwant Singh Rajona (a Sikh prisoner) lost her bail money in the party’s Sangrur parliamentary by-election, after which the trump card was also ruined.
Though SAD (B) claimed that Kamaldeep Kaur Rajoana was a joint Panthik candidate, differences between the Panthik candidates came to the fore even before the election when SAD (A) President Simranjit Singh Mann filed his nomination papers for the Sangrur parliamentary election. . In a major setback to the Shiromani Akali Dal (B) led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, who had launched a ‘integration’ campaign and also held a meeting at Teja Singh Samundari Hall in the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) premises, so that the public could see To keep a united face.
The election results took everyone by surprise when Simranjit Singh Mann was declared the winner and what was even more surprising was the almost rejection of Samyukta Panthik candidate Kamaldeep Kaur Rajoana, who secured only 44428 votes against the winning candidate Mann. Who got 270722 votes. The most surprising thing is that BJP candidate Kewal Singh Dhillon got 66298 votes.
The downfall of the SAD(B) began in the 2017 assembly elections. The Akali Party had won 56 seats in the 2012 assembly elections, but was reduced to just 15 seats in the 2017 assembly elections and is now reduced to its lowest 3 seats in the 2022 assembly elections. Which has dealt a big blow to the party. The ‘experienced’ and ‘experienced’ candidates who had to face defeat.
It is a known fact that the SAD(B) veiledly rules the SGPC and even exercises its influence during the appointment of Sikh High Priests. The issueless party came up with the idea of inciting sentiments by raising the issue of the release of Sikh prisoners, while the party was in power in Punjab with its former alliance partner BJP in power at the Centre, yet failed to secure their release.