Local Body Elections: Shiromani Akali Dal Attempts To Strike A Balance

Confronted with internal strife over allocation of tickets for block samiti and zila parishad elections in the city of Patiala, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on may 06 tried to convince dissatisfied heads from within and supporter Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by distributing tickets to the “irritated”.

The SAD party affairs in-charge for Patiala district, Sikander Singh Maluka, in the initial list declared on May 06 attempted to make a balance between SAD heads, particularly in Sanaur assembly section, where a group headed by Youth Akali Dal region president Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra had opened a banner of revolt in opposition to party assembly head TPS Sandhu.

Out of the 31 block samiti seats in the segment, associates of Pathanamjra set will fight on SAD tickets from 13. In addition, the group has bagged a party ticket to compete from one of the 4 zila parishad places in the section.

Before declaring the list, Sikander Singh had conveyed a conference between Sandhu and Pathanmajra on May 05 afternoon during which a oral fight also happened between the two heads.

But, Sikander Singh interfered and asked both the heads to preserve respectability, a source said.

The SAD has also tried to calm down BJP that had previously declared to field its applicants from all block samitis of Nabha assembly section. The SAD has also provided a block samiti seat in Nabha assembly to the saffron party, though the BJP had asked for 3.

The SAD declared its initial list of 17 applicants for zila parishad elections just a day before the last date for filing of nominations, which is May 07.

Sources added that the deadlock over the allocation of tickets is still persisting over a zila parishad seat from Samana section, constituted by rustic development head Surjit Singh Rakhra. A verdict on another seat, including regions of both Samana and Chutrana assembly sections, is pending as the SAD headships of both the constituencies want the seat for their loyals.

Of the 21 zila parishad seats in Patiala district, 19 would be contested by SAD, while two seats under Rajpura assembly segment will be contested by the BJP.

Of these 21, six seats are reserved for the scheduled caste (SC), comprising 2 for SC females, 5 seats are allowed for females, whilst the remaining will see an open fight.

Congress is yet to emerge with its record of applicants and has alleged that the SAD heads were making attempts to pressure Congress heads not to file the nominations.

“It’s highly disgraceful that the SAD leadership in the entire district has started threatening Congress lears. I dare them to conduct free and fair polls. They will get to know what was the reality of the development claims in the villages,” said Patiala (rural) MLA Brahm Mohindra.

In the approaching local body elections in the city of Patiala, 7.95 lakh people will have a chance to work out their right to vote.