Ludhiana MC polls: AAP, LIP differ over seat-sharing

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 12

Differences have come to the fore between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its alliance partner Lok Insaf Party (LIP) over the division of seats in the forthcoming elections to the 95-member Ludhiana Municipal Corporation.

After a 13-member screening committee of members from both parties failed to divide seats, a five-member committee of top leaders of both parties was formed today. The leaders will visit Ludhiana to find out an amicable solution. The elections are likely to be held next month.

Party sources said AAP wanted a bigger share of seats, but LIP insisted that it had more hold on Ludhiana as both its MLAs, Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjit Singh Bains, had won from the urban seats. They argued that the alliance fought on six seats, out of which LIP contested on four. While LIP returned two MLAs to the Assembly, AAP could not win any seat.

Under the same arrangement, LIP has demanded 64 seats However, AAP sources said the party leaders wanted more than 50 per cent seats.

Leaders of both parties claimed that there was no tension over the matter. Simarjit Singh said as they had two MLAs from Ludhiana, they had a better chance to win seats. He added that his party was open to allot seats to AAP candidates in his constituency if they had better chances of win.

AAP state deputy convener Aman Arora, too, said there was no conflict and the candidates would be chosen from both parties on the basis of their ability to win.

Meanwhile, the state unit today welcomed the appointment of Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia as Punjab affairs incharge of the party.