Alliance talks: Taksali, AAP leaders to meet in Ludhiana today

BONE OF CONTENTION Both parties are adamant on fielding their respective candidates from Anandpur Sahib seat

AMRITSAR : Keeping alliance in mind, the leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will meet once again in Ludhiana on Sunday.

As both the parties are adamant on fielding their respective candidates from Sri Anandpur Sahib seat, the possibility of the alliance has taken a back seat.

“The meeting is being held to chalk out possibilities for alliance for the general elections. AAP Member of Parliament (MP) from Sangrur, Bhagwant Mann, and the leader of opposition (LOP), Harpal Singh Cheema, will be part of the meeting that will take place on Sunday afternoon in Luhdiana to explore alliance possibilities,” informed Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, SAD (Taksali) chief.

Sad-taksali’s sole agenda is to press AAP to withdraw its candidate from Anandpur Sahib seat.

“If AAP wants to form alliance with us, it should withdraw its candidate Narinder Singh Shergill from Anandpur Sahib seat. We consider Bir Davinder Singh as the strongest candidate from this seat as he is a panthic face,” said Brahmpura.

Cheema said, “Shergill is our old volunteer. We have already chosen him for the seat. We have not thought of withdrawing his candidature from Sri Anandpur Sahib.”

SAD (Taksali) secretary general Sewa Singh Sekhwan said, “We have made it clear to the AAP about our two conditions. One, we will not go with the AAP if the party trucks the Congress anywhere in the country. Second, we will field our candidate from Sri Anandpur Sahib seat. If AAP agrees to these two conditions, we will have alliance with the AAP, or else we will go alone. We will also field our candidates from other constituencies.”

Meanwhile, Brahmpura said he is hopeful of positive result.

The alliance talks between the two parties began after the SAD (Taksali) parted its ways with the Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) over the seat-sharing arrangements.

› If AAP wants to form alliance it should withdraw its candidate from Anandpur Sahib seat RANJIT SINGH BRAHMPURA, Sad(taksali) chief