CHANDIGARH: A move is afoot to unite the traditional Akali leadership represented mainly by the Badal and Longowal Akali factions which are now part of the unified Akali Dal headed by Mr Simranjit Singh Mann.
Here on Friday that the issue had been informally discussed at different levels in the two erstwhile Akali factions. The timing of giving a formal shape to the unity move and its modalities depended on the Centre’s decision on holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Punjab which is expected to be announced in the first week of April.
What has further distanced the traditional Akali leaders from Mr Mann are the reports alleging that the latter has reached a secret understanding with the Prime Minister Mr Chandra Shekhar on the issue of elections in Punjab. Supporters of Mr Mann however deny the charge.
Irrespective of the form the unity move finally takes the parting of ways between Mr Mann and the traditional Akali leadership has virtually started. This is indicated by a number of developments.
The former SGPC president Mr G.S.Tohra this week attended the conference of the Haryana Akali Dal at Kamal despite the opposition by Mr Mann. The former Chief Minister Mr Prakash Singh Badal has withdrawn himself from all activities of the party.
The Amarinder Singh RAvi Inder Singh faction of the former Badal Akali Dal has also held. a meeting at Patiala this week expressing its reservations at the prevailing situation in the Akali Dal.
The Centre’s decision of elections in Punjab is expanded to concretize the current trends in Akali politics.
Sources said that the unity of the traditional Akali leadership was favored by wide sections particularly of the second rung leadership of the two Akali factions. The main factor for the emergence of this view was the growing disenchantment with Mr Mann. It is stated that he not only did not dissolve his own Akali Dal after dissolving the other two but had also not been taking the leaders of the latter into confidence on vital matters.
Senior leaders of the Akali Dal (Longowal) have announced after their meeting at Bathinda last Sunday that they would support the National Front during the ensuing elections. The former Akali Dal President Mr Surjit Singh Bamala who resigned his office before his appointment as Tamil Nadu Governor in 1990 is going to Delhi in the first week of April for campaigning.
The opinion on elections in the higher echelons of the state administration however is divided. A section of the administration feels that it is not advisable to hold elections in the state along with the Lok Sabha elections in the country as it feels that the situation is not conducive for holding elections.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 5, 1991
