LUDHIANA: Mr. Amik Singh Aliwal, president of the Shiromani ‘Akali Dal’s youth wing has been declared the official nominee of the party led by Mr. Parkash Singh Badal for the Ludhiana parliamentary seat.
Mr, Badal and Mr. Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who were closeted for talks here, had sharp exchanges over the selection of candidates for the Ludhiana and Amritsar parliamentary seats, sources said.
Mr. Tohra was reportedly interested in giving the ticket for the Lodhiata Lok Sabha seat to his protege, Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal a local advocate, and for the Amritsar scat, he pressed the candidature of Mr. Manjit Singh Calcutta, SGPC secretary, Mr, Badal, however, refused to oblige Mr. Tohra. Mr, Aliwal is a confidant of Mr. Badal and was nominated president of the party’s youth wing despite strong opposition from leaders of other factions. For the Amritsar seat, Mr. Badal is keen on supporting Mr. Kirpal Singh of the Janata Dal. Mr, Jagdev Singh Talwandi is also sore about not having been offered the tickets for the Ludhiana seat The Congress has declared Mrs. Jaswant Kaur, widow of Mr, Beant Singh, as its official nominee for the Ludhiana seat.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 3, 1996
