Sukhbir Singh Badal, 62, resigns as Shiromani Akali Dal president

Sukhbir Singh Badal resigned as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, paving the way of the election of the new chief, former Punjab Education Minister Daljit S Cheema said in a tweet.

In Short

• Badal's resignation comes ahead of election of Akali Dal's working committee
• Akali Dal's working committee president calls for emergency meeting on Monday
• Elections for Akali Dal's working committee scheduled on December 14

Sukhbir Singh Badal, 62, stepped down as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal on Saturday. The announcement was made by former Punjab Education Minister Daljit S Cheema in a tweet.

Badal resigned to pave the way for the next election.

"The SAD President S Sukhbir Singh Badal submitted his resignation to the working Committee of the party today to pave the way for the election of new President," Cheema tweeted.

"He thanked all the party leaders & workers for expressing confidence in his leadership and extending wholehearted support & cooperation throughout the tenure," the post further read.

Akali Dal Working Committee president Balwinder Singh Bhundar called an emergency meeting of the working committee at 12 pm on Monday at the party headquarters in Chandigarh to decide the further course of action.

Notably, elections for the post of president, office bearers and working committee of the Akali Dal are scheduled to be held on December 14.