LUDHIANA: Akali Dal (Panthic) today charged its poll ally Akali Dal (Amritsar) with betrayal and deliberate violation of electoral adjustment which had resulted in a humiliating defeat for the two parties in the SGPC elections. Talking to the media here, the Dal (Panthic) president Sant Ajit Singh alleged that Simranjit Singh Mann had connived with the outgoing SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra to inflict a political blow to his party. He said that the two parties were to contest an equal number of seats according to the agreement but the Akali Dal (Amritsar) had fielded 60 extra candidates, 35 on its own symbol. This was for the benefit of the Akali Dal (Badal), he said. The Sant said that his party was involved in an unequal fight. “While we had gone into the electoral battle without much preparations due to last minute adjustments with the Akali Dal (Amritsar), the Akali Dal (Badal) had huge funds and party machinery at its disposal”, he said. The Akali Dal (Panthic) chief strongly refuted the allegations that the United Front government led by H.D. Deve Gowda had extended support to his party in the SGPC elections. “On the contrary, Punjab Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Brar and Deputy Chief Minister, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal had openly campaigned for Badal and Tohra respectively’, he said. AMRITSAR: Satpal Mahajan, senior vice-president of the Punjab unit of Bharatiya Janata Party has hailed the sweeping victory of Akali Dal (Badal) in the SGPC elections. He said that the Sikhs have clearly indicated that Akali Dal (Badal) was their real representative. PATIALA: Member of Parliament and general secretary of Dal (Badal) Prem Singh Chandumajra has said that the SGPC results have given a crushing blow to “anti Panthic and pro Congress forces”. He thanked the Sikhs for their wholehearted support and assured them that Akali Dal (Badal) would always act as a watchdog of their interests. He appealed to them to extend similar support to the party during the forthcoming assembly elections.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 16, 1996