They are Science and Technology Minister Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Higher Education Minister Manjit Singh Calcutta, Public Works Minister Harmel Singh and Ministers of State Inderjit Singh Zira and Surjit Singh Kohli.

Grewal told The Indian Express that the resignations had been sent to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal through a special messenger. The resignations followed a closed-door two-hour meeting Tohra had with his associates at Ludhiana. Both Grewal and Manjit Singh attended the meeting.

Clearly, the resignations are an attempt to pre-empt a possible Badal move to axe the Tohra loyalists in the Ministry. Badal refused to comment on today's developments. One of his close associates, however, said the development was unfortunate both for theAkali Dal as well as Punjab.

Earlier, the five ministers who resigned and senior Akali Dal leader Surjan Singh Thekedar met Tohra in Ludhiana. The resignation appeared to be an afterthought as initial reports indicated that the five would meet Badal to register their ``protest'' over the ``planned attack'' against Tohra, which, they said, was in violation of the party discipline.

Meanwhile, the Badal Government, by transferring the deputy commissioner and a few other Patiala officials, the home district of the SGPC chief today, clearly signalled its intention of a going for an all-out battle with the dissidents. Some of these officials were reportedly posted there on Tohra's request.

Tohra loyalists maintained that criticism against Tohra continued even after the SGPC chief clarified his controversial statement. His camp argues that the SGPC chief had only given a ``suggestion'' to Badal to appoint an acting president.

It all started when reports appeared attributed to Tohra demanding change in theAkali Dal leadership. At present, Chief Minister Badal also heads the party. Tohra wanted Badal to appoint a working president who could devote more time to party affairs. This was taken as a direct attack on Badal after the defeat of the Akali Dal in the November 25 Adampur Vidhan Sabha bye-election.

The first indication that all was not well in the Akali Dal was available a few weeks ago when Tohra strongly criticised the alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party, comparing it with the Congress, especially in the context of its attitude towards demands concerning Punjab.

Meanwhile, four more ministers and 11 members of the SGPC joined the war of words against Tohra. The ministers -- Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Sucha Singh Langah, Dr Rattan Singh and Charanji Lal Garg -- charged Tohra with sabotaging the mandate of the people and harming the Panthic interests by launching low-level campaign against the Badal Government.

They asked the SGPC chief as to why he was opposing Badal more than the Congress. Theywent to the extent of saying the SGPC chief was conspiring with those responsible for the attack on the Akal Takht against the Akali Dal and the party government.

The SGPC members said the disastrous tactics adopted by Tohra had once again brought the Sikhs to the crossroads, raising questions about his aims and intentions.