On April 12, 2025, Sukhbir Singh Badal was re-elected unopposed as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), marking his return to the top post after a period of uncertainty. A total of 524 delegates from Punjab and other states voted in favor of his leadership, out of a total of 567 delegates chosen from 117 Assembly constituencies in the state. The election process, which was conducted with delegates casting their votes for a new party chief, signals a major turning point for the political party. The event marks a new chapter for SAD after a period of political instability.

This re-election follows a tumultuous period in Sukhbir Badal's leadership, which saw him tender his resignation as party president on November 16, 2024. However, the party’s working committee did not accept his resignation, urging him to reconsider and even threatening to resign en masse if he chose to step down. This plea eventually led to his return to the party’s top position.

An additional layer of complexity came in December 2024 when Sukhbir Singh Badal became the target of an assassination attempt. The incident occurred on December 4, 2024, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, one of the holiest sites in Sikhism. While performing the duty of a sewadar (volunteer), Badal was shot at by a man named Narayan Singh Chaura. Badal, who was sitting in a wheelchair at the time of the attack, miraculously escaped unhurt as the bullet struck a wall near him. The assailant was quickly overpowered by those present at the temple. This incident has raised concerns about security at religious sites and the rising tensions in the region.

The Golden Temple attack also coincided with Badal’s religious penance (known as tankhah), which he had accepted as a punishment imposed by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhs. The punishment was related to alleged mistakes made by his father, Prakash Singh Badal, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab from 2007 to 2017. As part of the decree, Sukhbir Badal was required to serve as a sewadar at various prominent Sikh shrines, including Takht Damdama Sahib, Darbar Sahib in Muktsar, Fatehgarh Sahib, and the Golden Temple. He had to perform seva (service) for two days at each of these sacred places, fulfilling the obligations set out by the Akal Takht.

Badal’s re-election as SAD president signifies a critical moment for the party, which has faced challenges in maintaining its political stature. On April 13, 2025, the party is set to hold a political conference at Talwandi Sabo (in Bathinda), where Badal will address the party members, outlining his vision for the future and reaffirming his commitment to the party's direction.

The SAD has long been a significant force in Punjab’s political landscape, and Sukhbir Singh Badal's leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping its future. With the backdrop of recent security breaches, religious duties, and political upheavals, the party's future will undoubtedly depend on how well Badal can navigate these challenges and regain the confidence of his supporters. As Sukhbir Singh Badal takes the helm once again, his leadership will be under intense scrutiny, with many expecting him to address both the party's internal issues and the broader political dynamics in the state.

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