CHANDIGARH: Akali Politics took another dramatic turn when the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ted by Kabul Singh faced a new situation on Monday when seven working committee members of the erstwhile Akali Dal (Longowal) one of two factions which had merged to form the party recently revolted against the leadership and decided to boycott Punjab elections.

The dissidents however told news conference here that they would remain in the party for the time being and persuade other members to join the boycott.

The rebels who said the Punjab poll would be meaningless without a solution to the states problem were Natha Singh Dalam Hari Singh Zira and Tara Singh Layalpuri former ministers Kamal Singh Dod former MLA Onkar Singh mattenangal a member of the SGPC working committee Mohinder Singh Romana and Harcharan Singh president Gurdaspur district unit of the erstwhile Akali Dal (Longowal).

Significantly a number of Akali Dal (Badal) and Akali Dal (Mann) leaders trooped in the press conference venue and welcomed the poll boycott decision. They included the SGPC President G.S-Tohra the Akali Dal (Badal) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa Baldev Singh Khiala former minister Jaswant Singh Qadian former deputy speaker Sarwan Singh Phillaur and Tota Sing split the SAD President Kabul Singh has summoned an emergency meeting of the party’s working committee here on Wednesday to consider matters relating to the Punjab elections.

In another development the chairman of the Parliamentary Board of the party Amarinder Singh inducted four new members S.S.Minhas Natha Singh Dalam and Baldey Singh Mann all belonging to the Longowal foction and Balbir Singh Brat a follower of Amarinder Singh in an apparent bid to satisfy the dissidents who reportedly are upset at having been kept out of the panel for selection of candidates.

The board was expanded after Suit Singh Bamala former chief minister and Kabul Singh met Amarinder Singh Kabul Singh also called on Capt Kanwaljt Singh the general secretary of the pany and an ardent supporter of the election process.

“Answering questions Dalam and other dissidents said their decision to boycott the elections was irrevocable.

A joint statement issued by the dissidents said that keeping in view the “background” of the central leaders the poll would not throw up any solution to the Punjab problem. It however could satisfy the lust for power of some selfish friends” They also protested against the denial of package for Punjab including acceptance of various demands of the Akalis. The situation was not conducive for the elections in the absence of this package they said.

The dissidents are said to be unhappy with Bamala and Kabul Singh for taking a pro-election stand. However they are in a hopeless minority in the erstwhile 31-member Longowal faction working committee.

Senior leaders of the SAD (Kabul) held consultations after the dissidents” news conference. Amarinder Singhand Bamala was among them.

Dalam claimed that the seven member committee of the SAD (Kabul) constituted to devise the party’s stand on the Punjab elections of which he was a member did not take any unanimous decision to contest them. Dod questioned the constitution of the Parliamentary Board of the party saying there was no competent authority to do so.

When told that the statement which appointed office bearers of the party including the Parliamentary Board chairman was signed by Bamala also Dalam said Barmata did not hold any office in the party:

Article extracted from this publication >> February 7, 1992