Rebels within have been thrown out of their party. Showing zero tolerance towards the dissenters dampening the party spirits ahead the municipal polls, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has shown them a door on Monday.
Repeated warnings and attempts to persuade them notwithstanding, the Akali Dal has decided to expel all the rebel candidates, who did not withdraw their nominations papers even on the last date, that is Monday (February 16), for withdrawal of candidature for the Nagar Panchayats and Municipal Councils’ elections, to be held on February 25.
Besides, the party has cracked a whip on the rebel candidates for the elections to six Municipal Corporation, scheduled to be held on February 22. Sources informed The Pioneer that there are some 20 candidates who have not withdrawn their candidature and are still in fray to contest the civic body polls against the SAD’s official nominee.
The ruling party had set a deadline till Sunday for rebels to withdraw their nominations against party’s candidates while, at the same time, making it amply clear that “strict action” would be initiated against those working against the party.
The expulsion orders, given by the party president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, stated that all the rebel candidates of SAD, who did not withdraw their nominations papers, have been “expelled from the primary membership of party”.
“These include all the SAD rebels against the party official candidates in the Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats,” said the party secretary and spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema.
Cheema said that the party president has also indicated that indiscipline will not be tolerated at any cost.“Strict action will also be taken against those party functionaries who will support the rebels directly and indirectly,” said Cheema.
The party has been facing rebels at many seats, especially in Bathinda and Moga. It has been learnt that over 30 rebel Akalis had filed their nomination papers for Moga Municipal Corporation polls, while five were in fray against the party nominees for corporation polls in Bathinda.