Punjab CM Badal puts power-broker Majithia in place

He even mentioned the names of senior party leaders, some of whom have been sidelined in the Akali Dal by the Sukhbir-Majithia duo, who had been to jail during the struggling years of the Akali Dal.

Having said what was on his mind, Badal tried to lighten the situation saying: "Sorry jee, jara idhar-urdhar di gallan....(Sorry, I took up other things)."

Badal's sarcastic comments seemed to be the outcome of what is happening with the Badal family - Punjab's first political family - and the Akali Dal. The control of the Sukhbir-Majithia duo over the government and the party is complete.

Majithia is the younger brother of Sukhbir's wife, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur.

That the comments from Badal Sr, 85, came at an NRI conference that was organized by Majithia and was being termed as a "highly successful" event by the duo, makes it clear that a power struggle has begun in the family.

At the conference itself, some NRIs openly demanded that Badal Sr step down to make way for Sukhbir. This, for now, does not seem to have gone down well with the octogenarian leader.

Just a day after his taunts, Badal Sr tried to downplay his comments by trying to defend Majithia.