Delhi is undoubtedly not far for the Badals. Attribute it to Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal)’s winning spree during which it has also won Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. After over a decade, the party is all set to field its candidates for the ensuing Delhi Vidhan Sabha elections.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Badal on Friday made it clear that the party would fight Delhi Assembly polls in alliance with its partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).This is not all! With the aim to expand its wings beyond the State and strengthening party base outside Punjab, the SAD may also field its candidates in the States of Haryana and Delhi for the impending lS polls.
“After party’s sterling performance in DSGMC elections, the SAD has consolidated its vote bank outside Punjab and is ready to expand its area of activity beyond Punjab,” said Sukhbir while answering responding to media queries after oath administering function on Friday.He added, “Akali Dal may also field its candidates for lok Sabha polls from Haryana and Delhi but no final decision has been taken at the party level regarding lok Sabha elections.”
Sukhbir also said, “Going by the eroding credibility of Congress-led UPA Government, there is possibility of general elections before December.”
MANPREET JOINING HANDS WITH CONGRESS ‘INCONSEQUENTIAl’
Reacting upon prospective move of People’s Party of Punjab president and his estranged cousin Manpreet Badal joining hands with the Congress, Sukhbir described it as “inconsequential as zero-plus-zero would always remain zero”.“It is forgone conclusion regarding his collusion with them the moment he resigned from SAD,” he added.
PUNJAB TO ENSURE NO CUTS IN DOMESTIC POWER CONNECTIONS
On continuing power cuts in Punjab’s industrial sector, Sukhbir said that situation would continue to remain same as Central Grid was not allowing Punjab to purchase more than 5,300 MW of power.“After December, every sector will have round-the-clock power supply with the state’s own generation capacity set to touch 13,000 MW against the present demand of 6,200 MW,” he added.
SEPARATE DHARNA SITES IN All DISTRICTS
Taking note of the frequent traffic disruption due to protests and dharnas, the Deputy Chief Minister said that he has already issued directions to all Deputy Commissioners to identify separate dharna sites in each district headquarter so that people could exercise their democratic rights without causing harassment to the people.
NO RElAXATION TO REGUlARISE IllEGAl COlONIES
Indicating against providing any sort of relief in regularisation of illegal colonies, Deputy Chief Minister has made it clear that no illegal colonies would be allowed in future and a pro-people policy was envisaged to help the people get their illegal colonies regularised.Already, SAD’s alliance partner, BJP, has been demanding to relax the norms and reducing the regularisation charges.
CM BADAl NOT INTERESTED IN NDA CONVENER’S POST
Putting to rest all speculation, Sukhbir said that his father and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was not interested in the post of NDA convener.There have been rumours in the political circles that Akali Dal patron-in-chief Badal would become the convener of the NDA. However, senior Badal has not shown any interest in the post, which has been lying vacant after Janta Dal-United parted ways with the NDA senior JD-U leader Sharad Yadav was the NDA convener.