SAD wants to fight 10 seats, BJP says ‘be reasonable’

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is hopeful of entering into an alliance with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) for the ensuing assembly polls in Haryana, scheduled for October 21. If things work out, it will be for the first time that the two parties will contest the state polls as allies as they do in Punjab.

The Akali Dal has shown willingness to contest ten seats – Pehowa, Gulha (reserved), Ladwa, Shahbad, Assandh, Nilokheri, Ambala, Kaithal, Kalanwali (reserved) and Rania — but the saffron party is not impressed with the idea and reportedly has asked the Akali Dal to be “reasonable in demand”.

One of the oldest allies of the BJP since the days of Jan Sangh, the SAD and BJP have been contesting elections as allies in Punjab and Delhi, but in Haryana, Akali Dal used to contest in alliance with the INLD.

Fighting to stay afloat politically after its chief Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay Chautala were jailed for 10 years in 2013, Chautalas raised shriller voice demanding construction of SYL canal, which SAD opposed. Once called sister parties, SAD and INLD severed ties in 2017 over contradictory stand of the SYL canal issue. In the parliamentary polls in March this year, SAD leaders campaigned for the BJP in Haryana.

“Our support was sought by the BJP during the parliamentary elections and a permanent alliance (in Haryana) was prom

› Our support was sought by BJP during the Lok Sabha polls and a permanent alliance was promised in return. Let’s see how things shape up. BALWINDER SINGH BHUNDAR, senior Akali Dal leader

ised to us in return. So, let us see how things shape up for the state polls,” said Balwinder Singh Bhundar, who is negotiating with the BJP. “We also want to take our party symbol ‘scales’ (Takdi) to Haryana,” he added.

SAD president Sukhbir Badal also met BJP’s working president JP Nadda but, so far, he has not reverted. Akali Dal claims sway on at least 30 assembly seats in the neighbouring state having sizeable Sikh and Punjabi population which can play a decisive role. Both parties have to take a decision before October 4, the last date for filing of nominations.

Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala maintains that he is still to get a word from the party high command on seat sharing.