Akali Dal expels MP Brahmpura, Ajnala, their sons from party

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MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura (right) and former MP Rattan Singh Ajnala (centre). — PTI file

The Shiromnai Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday expelled its MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, his son Ravinder Brahmpura, former MP Rattan Singh Ajnala and his son Bonny Ajnala from the party.

The decision was taken in the core committee meeting of party.

Brahmpura, MP from Khadoor Sahib, had last month quit from the party posts of senior vice-president and core committee member, citing “age and deteriorating health”.

He had confessed that he was unhappy with the pardon to Sirsa dera chief (rescinded later) in a blasphemy case and the Bargari sacrilege incidents.

Brahmpura had been gunning for party president Sukhbir Badal and former minister Bikram Majithia, accusing the duo of “destroying” the reputation of the party, Akal Takht and the SGPC.

He had also accused the two leaders of running mafia and managing pardon for dera chief and Bargari killings. “When dera supporters were protesting, the SAD didn’t even warn them, but when Sikhs were protesting peacefully at Bargari, cops were ordered to open fire at them,” Brahmpura had claimed.

Brahmpura and Ajnala along with former Cabinet minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan had virtually raised a banner of revolt saying “all was not well within the party”, a day after veteran leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa had resigned on September 30.

Earlier this month, Shiromani Akali Dal had expelled Sekhwan, a two-time minister, from the primary membership of the party minutes after he had announced his resignation as senior vice-president and core committee member.