As the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be holding its first meeting to discuss on the names of the party candidates for 2017 polls, its alliance partner, Shiromani Akali Dal, on Friday declared three more candidates taking its final tally to 85.
SAD contests on 94 seats, while the BJP fields its candidates on 23 seats for elections to 117-member Vidhan Sabha.
“A meeting will be held tomorrow to discuss the applications that have been received for 23 seats that the party contests in alliance with the SAD. All the sitting MlAs and party candidates in 2012 Assembly polls, besides the district heads will attend a meeting under the chairmanship of party president Vijay Sampla and discuss on the possible candidates,” a senior BJP leader told The Pioneer.
On the other hand, SAD announced its three more candidates, including two sitting MlAs but fielded from other constituencies.
Party’s MlA from Bathinda rural Darshan Singh Kotfatta has been shifted to Malout Assembly seat which is currently represented by Harpreet Singh. Harpreet has been shifted to Bhucho Mandi.
Replacing Kotfatta, the party has fielded Amit Ratan from Bathinda rural assembly constituency.
“The party will soon declare the rest of candidates on the remaining nine seats of its share as per alliance agreement with the BJP,” said Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Badal on Friday.