Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will not participate in the proposed assembly by-elections in Punjab. By-elections will be held on four assembly seats of the state, Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal and Barnala on November 13. BJP, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have already announced candidates for the by-elections on these seats. The seats in these areas became vacant after the MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha.
This decision was taken in an emergency meeting of the working committee of Shiromani Akali Dal and the district presidents of the party here. This decision has been taken a day after Sukhbir Singh Badal did not get any relief from the Sikh religious court. With the party withdrawing from the by-election, the contest will now be between Congress, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party.
Decision for the dignity of the sect
Giving information about the decision, senior party leader Daljit Singh Cheema said, we have decided that keeping in mind the interests of the sect and the dignity and respect of the sectarian institutions, we will keep ourselves away from the by-elections of four assembly seats. He said that a resolution in this regard was passed unanimously in the meeting.
Earlier on Tuesday, a SAD delegation met the Jathedar and urged him to give leeway to Sukhbir Badal to lead the party’s election campaign for the by-elections to be held on November 13 for four assembly constituencies in Punjab.
Punishment for the mistakes of the previous government
Akal Takht’s Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had said on Wednesday that someone guilty of religious misconduct remains a salaryman until he is given religious punishment. The highest religious body of the Sikhs, the Akal Takht, on August 30 had declared Sukhbir Badal as ‘tankhaiya’ for the mistakes committed by his party and government from 2007 to 2017.
