Ludhiana, May 18, 2025
Navtej Singh Kaoni, a Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member expelled from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) last year for alleged anti-party activities, has rejoined the party’s campaign efforts. Kaoni, a resident of Kaoni village in Muktsar district’s Gidderbaha Assembly segment, is now actively supporting SAD’s Ludhiana West bypoll candidate, Parupkar Singh Ghumman.
Previously, Kaoni briefly campaigned for BJP candidates, including Hans Raj Hans in the Faridkot Lok Sabha election and Manpreet Singh Badal in the Gidderbaha bypoll. Despite his expulsion from SAD in March 2024 by then Muktsar district president Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi, Kaoni has reconciled with the party. He is now working alongside Rozy, with photos circulating on social media showing them together at Ghumman’s election office in Ludhiana.
Clarifying his stance, Kaoni said, “I was expelled but never wavered in my support for Sukhbir Badal. I’m campaigning for SAD in Ludhiana and was even invited to Sukhbir’s daughter’s wedding.” Addressing his brief association with the BJP, he added, “I never joined the BJP. I was only honored with a ‘Siropa’ by their district unit and shared stages with Hans Raj Hans and Manpreet Badal. My loyalty remains with the Badal family, especially Manpreet.”
Kaoni, a former SGPC executive committee member, continues to strengthen SAD’s campaign in the Ludhiana West bypoll, signaling a renewed alignment with the party.