Chandigarh, September 18
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is likely to contest the Sikh-dominated assembly seats in Haryana on its party symbol.
Although no formal announcement has been made so far, sources said the SAD is all set to forge an alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD and dump its alliance partner in Punjab, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The SAD would most likely field its candidates for a few seats and support the INLD on the others.
The SAD had contested the last general election at Delhi on the party symbol. Although it did not win any seat, its candidates performed well. The SAD had contested from Shahdara, Adarsh Nagar, Rajouri Garden and Jangpura seats as an ally of the BJP.
And as the SAD had supported the INLD and opposed the BJP in the last general election at Rajasthan, it would not be blasphemous if it did the same again now.
Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has been telling party colleagues that such experiences make “the party
grow”. Although he said the party was yet to discuss the matter, sources said there was some serious thought on contesting from Dabwali, Kilianwali, Ratia, Ambala, Guhla and Peohwa seats on the party symbol.
The INLD has already announced a Sikh candidate for the Yamunanagar seat, which is another Sikh-dominated area. The move would help both SAD and the INLD in consolidating the votes of the community.
The SAD want to unite the Sikhs to deal with the issue of a separate SGPC for Haryana, while the INLD wants to bring them back into its fold after having lost favour. Besides, an alliance with the INLD, which is viewed as a pro-farmer party, would help the SAD in Punjab more than an alliance with the BJP, which has a predominantly urban base.
Meanwhile, Sikhs in Haryana too continue to exert pressure on the SAD to support the INLD. A delegation led by Haryana SAD president Joginder Singh Aherwan today held consultations with Sukhbir Badal in the presence of senior SAD leaders, including Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Prem Singh Chandumajra, and Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema, and asked him to make an early announcement regarding his party’s support to Chautala. The SAD has so far remained tight-lipped on the issue but a formal announcement was expected shortly.
