SAD to take call on campaigning today

NEW DELHI: Senior leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will meet with its Delhi unit Wednesday to decide on whether to campaign for the BJP in the Delhi polls scheduled for February 8.

While the BJP has stepped up its campaign, the Akalis are not participating in any of the rallies, including those of Union home minister Amit Shah.

The two allies fell apart over seat-sharing for Delhi assembly polls. Senior Akali leaders in Delhi said they have consulted the ‘Singh saabs’ (local units of Sikh body in Delhi) on the issue.

SAD leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, said, “We consulted our Singh saabs in Delhi and will communicate our decision to the party leadership Wednesday. A final decision in this regard will be taken by the party leadership.”

Although the Sikh vote in Delhi is just 5-7%, it plays a crucial role in at least 11 assembly segments, including Rajouri Garden, Hari Nagar, Moti Nagar, Kalkaji, Greater Kailash, and Jangpura, among others.

The Akalis, in the past, have contested from Rajouri Garden, Hari Nagar, Kalkaji and Shahdara.

“This is the first time since 1993, that the BJP is contesting without us. The party used to get the Sikh vote because of us,” a senior Akali leader, requesting anonymity, said.

When contacted, BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh said the Akalis are with the BJP but refused to comment on whether they will campaign or not. “We have fielded the most number of Sikh candidates. All our candidates are strong in their respective constituencies,” he said.

The BJP, for the first time, has tied up with Janata Dal (United) and the Lok Janshakti Party in a bid to woo the Purvanchali community.

THE PARTY IS AT ODDS WITH BJP OVER SEAT-SHARING, AKALI LEADERS SAY THEY HAVE CONSULTED THE ‘SINGH SAABS’