Delhi has never been too far for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). After capturing Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and bagging three of the four Assembly seats it contested previously, the party is eyeing a déjà vu by focusing on not just the Sikh voters, but every vote in its constituencies.
Despite growing differences with its alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in Punjab, the SAD has already made it clear that it will contest February 7 Delhi Assembly polls in coalition with the saffron party.
The SAD is hopeful to get the same set of seats it had in its kitty during 2013 Delhi elections. On the other hand, it has been learnt that considering the SAD’s ‘defiled’ image, the BJP may cut down on its seat share.
The Akali Dal, in 2013 polls, contested four seats and won three in 70-member legislative Assembly. It had contested two seats on its own symbol and the remaining two on the symbol of the BJP. Technically, the SAD had only one MlA who fought on its symbol and won. During 2008 elections, the Akali Dal failed to win even a single seat out of the four it contested in alliance with the BJP.
Even as the two parties are yet to decide on seat-sharing, sources informed The Pioneer that the SAD is planning its strategy according to the four seats on which it contested during the previous polls. At the same time, the party has almost made up its mind to field the same candidates, at least on two seats.
The SAD, in 2013 polls, fielded its candidates from Kalkaji, Shahdara, Rajouri Garden and Hari Nagar — two on its party symbol (scale) and two on the BJP symbol (lotus). It won three seats, except Hari Nagar which was fought on SAD’s party symbol and considered to be the BJP’s “strong” seat.
In a winning spree at that time, the SAD had virtually forced its alliance partner to give up Hari Nagar seat that even cost the saffron party its four-time legislator, Harsharan Singh Balli, and eventually the “seat”.
It is believed that BJP, now in stronger position than SAD, may not agree to give four seats.
Punjab Chief Minister and SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal, who was in Muktsar on Monday, maintained that the seat sharing arrangement was hardly any issue for the SAD-BJP alliance.
He said: “Both the alliance partners would soon finalise the seat sharing arrangement… The top brass of both the parties would soon deliberate upon this issue and finalise the seat sharing arrangement.”
Some of its leaders, including outgoing MlA from Rajouri Garden Manjinder Singh Sirsa, have already launched their election campaigning.
The SAD’s main agenda for the elections would be the age-old issue of 1984 riots, besides restoration of teaching of Punjabi language as a subject in universities and affiliated colleges in Delhi, and protecting minorities’ rights, among others.
Besides panthic issues including “justice for 1984 riot victims”, the party would also focus on the area specific needs and issues besides highlighting the BJP-led UPA government’s achievements in this short span.
“Our voters are not just the Sikhs, but every single voter in Delhi. We are not contesting on a few seats but on all seats in coalition
with the BJP. We would focus on each and every voter in the state,” SAD’s Delhi unit
chief and DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK told
The Pioneer.
Continued on Page 4
“SAD is known as a party working for the cause of Sikhism and Sikhs all over, and we would surely take up panthic issues. Rs5 lakh grant to the 1984 riot-affected families and constitution of redressaal committee under Justice GP Mathur to see if special investigation team (SIT) can be constituted to probe the killings of innocent Sikhs in 1984 massacre are our major success this year,” a senior leader of SAD’s Delhi unit said.
Adding that there are lot many other things to do in this regard, he said that the party, if come to power, would “constitute a SIT to investigate 1984 riots, rehabilitation package for riot-hit Sikh victims”, among other things.
Akali leader said that from water to electricity to social issues like women safety, law and order, “SAD would raise each and every issue concerning every citizen”.
SAD’s previous performance, under the leadership of party chief Sukhbir Badal, not only paved way for foraying into national political scene but had also enhanced its cachet. However, post-lok Sabha elections and several other events that took place after that including Haryana Assembly polls, alleged involvement of its leaders in multi-crore drug case, has widened the gulf between the two alliance partners.