Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday announced the party's organisational polls to elect the new body, including the president, on August 30.
The party's previous organisational elections were held in January 2008, when Sukhbir was nominated to take over as the party president from his father, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Likely to retain the top post, Sukhbir's announcement comes as a drill to reshuffle the second-line cadre posts of district-level party chiefs and the 'halqa'(circle) jathedars. Each district has 25 circles.
Senior party leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, a former MP, is also likely to retain the post of secretary general.
The decision to hold the organisational elections assumes significance in the wake of the recent bloody clashes between Akali groups during the panchayat polls. Sukhbir would be expected to iron out differences between Akali factions.
The election process would begin on August 1 with meetings of delegates at the district level and continue till August 10, SAD spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said here.A general delegate session to elect the party president and other office-bearers would be held on August 30 after the election of the 'halqa' chiefs, he said.
As per the party's constitution, he said, one circle delegate is elected for every 100 general members, 25 circle-level members elect a district delegate and state-level delegates are elected by the district-level delegates.
{{/usCountry}}As per the party's constitution, he said, one circle delegate is elected for every 100 general members, 25 circle-level members elect a district delegate and state-level delegates are elected by the district-level delegates.
{{/usCountry}}The SAD recruits members from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Delegates are also elected from various countries, Dr Cheema said.