Sukhbir inducts 31 independent councillors into SAD, hails party’s performance

Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday inducted 31 independent candidates, who were elected as councillors in the recent civic body elections, into the party fold.Sukhbir said another 20 independent councillors would soon join the SAD. Addressing a press conference here, he said the SAD had supported these candidates during the polls.The SAD chief said that with 51 independent councillors expressing their faith in the SAD, the total number of wards won under the Akali Dal leadership increased to 243 – 192 posts were won on the party symbol.Sukhbir said the SAD "secured a complete majority in nine municipal committees compared to six committees won by the Congress and two by the BJP".He informed that the SAD has secured a complete majority in Maluka (9/11), Kot Shamir (11/13), Bhagta Bhaika (7/13), Bhucho (7/13), Nathana (7/11), Lehra Mohabbat (8/11), Sangat (6/9), Kot Fatta (8/11), and Rahon (10/13)."The SAD secured the number one position in terms of votes polled in Faridkot, Mehraj, Majitha and Maur. At many places, our candidates were declared defeated despite getting the most votes," Sukhbir alleged."Despite all attempts by the AAP govt to get the candidature of SAD candidates rejected and the resultant goondaism and misuse of police power, the SAD performed better than the Congress," he said.He added, "The SAD was restricted to contesting 1,251 seats compared to the 1,550 seats contested by the Congress party. Despite being forced to contest 300 seats less than the Congress, the latter could win only 150 more seats than the SAD."Sukhbir claimed that the repression unleashed by the AAP govt, including the arrest of the party's district president Satish Grover in Faridkot and action against Akali workers in Majitha, resulted in public angst against the AAP govt. "They will teach the AAP an appropriate lesson in the forthcoming assembly elections," he added.Alleging misuse of the police and civil administration by the govt, Sukhbir said, "The day the model code of conduct is imposed for the 2027 Punjab elections, the AAP functionaries will be nowhere to be found."He also said, "The AAP win was not the verdict of the people, but resulted from booth capturing and high-handedness. There is anger among the people, and they will take revenge after four months."‘Majithia being targeted'SAD chief Sukhbir Badal said the latest case registered against party leader Bikram Majithia was "part of a political vendetta unleashed against Majithia by CM Bhagwant Mann". Replying to a media enquiry, Sukhbir said, "One day before the revelation that an SAD worker had been apprehended, AAP halka in-charge had forcibly freed his worker from police custody, but no action was taken. Bikram Majithia, on the other hand, is being targeted with the registration of a false case."SAD-BJP alliance?Responding to a question on alliance prospects with the BJP, Sukhbir Badal said that every political development should not be associated with the prospects of an alliance between the two parties. "The SAD is a formidable regional party. Akali Dal is fully preparing to save Punjab and needs the support of every section of Punjab," he added.MSID:: 131443291 413 |