After Haryana, SAD planning to enter poll fray in UP, Rajasthan: Sukhbir Singh Badal

LONGOWAL: To spread its presence beyond Punjab, SAD has decided to go in for the electoral contests in UP and Rajasthan too. Making the party's resolve public at the 33rd death anniversary of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said after Haryana, the party would fight elections in these two states too.
SAD, which is banking on the Sikhs settled in these three states to find to its political footing, had on Sunday at Kurukshetra announced that it would be contesting parliamentary as well as assembly elections in Haryana next year. In the 2014 assembly polls, the party had contested on two seats in Haryana in alliance with INLD. Its candidate Balkaur Singh got elected from Kalanwali constituency in Sirsa district.

According to those close to the SAD president, Sukhbir is planning to expand the party's political base in the northern states keeping in mind the demographics. "Getting a hold in these states can help the Akali Dal enhance its say at the national level," sources said.

Meanwhile, Sukhbir utilized the stage at Longowal to lead an attack on Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and the Congress government claiming the state had "lost faith in the CM, whose vow taken on the Gutka Sahab to eliminate drugs had proved to be a farce". He said all promises made by Amarinder prior to the 2017 Punjab assembly elections were an outcome of his desperation to seize power.

He tried to deflect the heat that the party has been facing in view of the leaked report of Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission, claiming it was a conspiracy hatched by the Congress to defame the then SAD-BJP government. He said the Congress has ganged up with AAP and the "bogus jathedars".

Paying tributes to Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, SAD president Sukhbir Badal said the party was following in his footsteps by raising issues concerning the community.

He reiterated that Gandhi family had betrayed Longowal and the accord signed by him led to his martyrdom. Badal also paid tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying he commanded love and respect of the people.