JALANDHAR: Mr, Darbara Singh, a former Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, last week quit the Congress and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr, Parkash Singh Badal. ‘This was announced by Mr. Darbara Singh at a press conference here which was also atiended by Mr. Kuldeep Singh Wadala, Senior VicePresident of SAD.

Mr, Darbara Singh will be nominated as the party’s candidate for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat. This was indicated by Mr. Wadala when he said that Mr, Darbara Singh was the top contender in the panel of names to be submitted to Mr. Badal. A formal announcement by Mr, Badal nominating Mr. Darbara Singh as the candidate was expected soon. His main rival would be Mr. Umrao Singh, the sitting Congress member of the Lok Sabha.

The other names in the panel are Prof Suba Singh of Guru Nanak Dev University, Bibi Upinderjit Kaur, daughter of Mr. Atma Singh, a former minister, Mr. Sukhpal Singh, son of Mr, Sukhjinder Singh, a former minister, Mr, Rashbeg Singh Dhillon of Sultanpur Lodhi, Mr. Trilok Singh Lallian, general secretary of the District Akali Dal and Mr. Sucha Singh Johal.

Mr, Wadala said his son, Mr. Gurpratap Singh, was not in the race for the ticket.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 3, 1996