Analysis: Akali Dal's Battle To Reclaim Panthic Strongholds

Shiromani Akali Dal is trying to recover the Panthic strongholds it once dominated by reversing the dynastic style that drove senior leaders out. After years of Badal centralisation pushed nine senior party leaders out of which three have died.The prominent leaders who had left the party include figures such as Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjeet Singh Bains left in 2016 to form the Lok Insaaf Party.

In December 2018, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Rattan Singh Ajnala and Sewa Singh Sekhwan co-founded the Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali). In 2020, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and his son Parminder Singh Dhindsa revived the Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic); the following year they merged it with Brahmpura's faction to create the Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).Bibi Jagir Kaur was expelled in 2022 after contesting the SGPC presidential election against the official candidate and later aligned with rebel reform groups.

In August 2025, former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh became president of the rebel Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit).