Delhi polls: Akalis to contest 4 seats

NEW DELHI: Keen to keep its alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) alive, the BJP on Wednesday agreed to the Akalis’ demand, allowing them to contest in four seats in the Delhi elections.
The BJP even gave up the Hari Nagar seat, represented in the assembly by four-time MLA Harsharan Singh Balli. The other three seats are Rajouri Garden, Kalkaji and Shahdara. The Akalis always wanted two seats in west Delhi--an area dominated by Punjabis—which they have managed now with Hari Nagar and Rajouri Garden.
“We are satisfied with the seats offered to us. Our party high command will soon hold a meeting to finalize names of the candidates,” said Manjeet Singh G K, Delhi president SAD (Badal). Singh added that the decision on symbol will also be taken in the meeting. Earlier, the Akalis had expressed desire to contest polls on its own symbol-- a balance, instead of BJP’s lotus. In 2008, SAD (Badal) had contested on three seats, Jangpura, Shahdara and Rajouri Garden and lost all of them.
Soon after the announcement, SAD (Badal) national president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the thumping win in Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) would ensure his party’s victory. “The tempo was set for the victory of SAD-BJP right from the DSGMC polls in January when we swept 37 out of 46 seats," he said.
BJP sources said senior party leaders took Balli into confidence before taking the decision. “We are sure that he will come out in support of the ally partner in the area,” said a BJP leader. Another leader claimed that Balli has been unwell for a long time and hence was not sure whether to contest to not.
Balli, however, vehemently denied all claims and said the party never discussed the issue with him. “Anyone who is saying that is lying. I have yet not been contacted by anyone from the party. Even the stories about my seat going to Akalis is news to me. I will react only after my party’s senior leader confirm the same to me,” Balli told TOI.
The seat-sharing formula was worked out in a meeting between senior Akali leaders – Manjeet Singh GK, Naresh Gujral, Balwant Singh Ramoowalia—and BJP leaders including L K Advani and Rajnath Singh on Wednesday noon at the BJP headquarters.