SAD to contest all polls in Haryana on own symbol

IN THE 2014 POLLS, AKALI DAL HAD COME OUT AGAINST ITS ALLY IN PUNJAB AND CENTRE, THE BJP, BY RETAINING ITS ALLIANCE WITH THE INLD OF CHAUTALAS

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will contest all forthcoming elections in Haryana on its own symbol starting with elections to civic bodies of Ambala and Rohtak.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the SAD Haryana state unit on Monday evening which was presided over by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

In a statement, Sukhbir said the members of the Haryana unit unanimously passed a resolution to this effect.

“I have asked them to work vigorously to strengthen the party at all levels so that the SAD may emerge as a major force in Haryana politics,” the SAD president said.

It was also decided that senior Akali leaders from Punjab would be deputed to Haryana to help in strengthening the organisation.

Sukhbir also asked the Haryana unit of the party to identify people issues and redress them to their ability.

In the 2014 Haryana Vidhan Sabha polls, the Akali Dal had come out against its ally in Punjab and Centre — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — by retaining its alliance with the Indian National National Lok Dal (INLD) of family friends Chautalas.

Top Akali leaders, including Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir, had campaigned against the BJP in Haryana during the Lok Sabha polls too.