CHANDIGARH, June 1— A day after rebel Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) legislator Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi was appointed Vice President of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has directed him to explain his position on July 29 regarding a petition that questions his continued status as a SAD MLA.
The notice stems from a disqualification plea filed by advocate H.C. Arora, who has sought action against Sukhi under anti-defection provisions. “Since Dr Sukhi remains a member of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, he has been asked to submit his reply on the matter by the end of July,” Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said in a media interaction.
Dr Sukhi, an ENT specialist by profession, was first elected as an MLA from Banga in 2017 and re-elected in 2022. Despite switching allegiance to AAP in August last year, he has not formally resigned from SAD. Following his crossover, he was appointed chairperson of the Punjab State Container and Warehousing Corporation and accorded cabinet-rank status.
His elevation within AAP’s ranks on Monday triggered renewed political debate, as his dual association raised legal and ethical questions. The Speaker clarified that the matter is now being formally examined in light of the petition.
Alongside addressing Sukhi’s case, Sandhwan also spoke about preparations to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur. He announced that the Vidhan Sabha would soon host a special session for the event and that outreach efforts were being initiated.
“I will be meeting people from all walks of life, including Sikh scholars and members of the academic community, to gather suggestions for the commemoration,” Sandhwan stated. On whether the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) would be involved in the planning, he said, “We will certainly seek their inputs. After all, the Guru and his legacy are common to all.”
