Sukhbir elected acting president of SAD

New Delhi: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and son of Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal was on Sunday elected as acting president of SAD.

The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party took the decision in Chandigarh.

"During the PAC, I said that there is lot of work in the Government and it will be difficult for me to carry on satisfactorily in the posts of SAD President and Chief Minister," news agency PTI quoted Badal, who chaired the PAC, as saying.

The name of Sukhbir was proposed by senior leader and Cabinet minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and seconded by Gurdev Singh Badal.

Party secretary general and MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa also endorsed the name of Sukhbir as acting president of the party, Badal said.

He, however, said that he would continue to be president of the party.

"I have delegated all powers as party chief to Sukhbir," he said adding "during the recently concluded assembly polls the contribution of Sukhbir was immense," Badal was quoted as saying.

"My Government will be guided by the party and party workers will be given due respect at all levels," he added.

"Its a big responsibility...I will work for further strengthening the party," Sukhbir said adding that there would be "close relation" between the Government and the party-cadre.

Sukhbir, who was the general secretary of SAD, is MP from Faridkot.