No tie-up with JJP, Akali Dal goes back to its old ally INLD

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday announced to contest the Haryana assembly elections with its old partner, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) after failing to stitch up an alliance with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP).

The Akali Dal was earlier trying to ally with Dushyant Chautala-led JJP, but a series of talks failed after the latter refused to part some constituencies for the Akalis.

The SAD will field its candidates from the Kalanwali, Ratia and Guhla seats. While Rajinder Singh Desujodha is the party nominee from Kalanwali, Kulwinder Singh Kunal will contest from Ratia and Raj Kumar Ravarjagir from Guhla.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said party patron Parkash Singh Badal and INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala would accompany the SAD candidates for filing nomination papers for Kalanwali and Ratia on Thursday. He said other seats to be contested jointly with the INLD will be announced tomorrow.

It was after the SAD failed to work out an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its lone MLA from Kalanwali switched to the saffron party that it opened talks with the JJP. “But things did not go the way we wanted. We have now decided to go with our traditional ally in Haryana,” said an Akali leader, who did not wish to be named.

The JJP came into existence last year after Om Prakash Chautala expelled Dushyant and his brother Digvijay from the INLD on charges of indiscipline and hooliganism.

The SAD used to contest elections in alliance with the INLD until 2017, when their ties severed over contrary viewpoints on the SYL canal issue. While the Akalis sought its permanent closure, the INLD demanded that water should flow in the canal.