Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has asked his party workers to gear up for the upcoming Assembly elections, expected by November this year, as the political atmosphere in Punjab heats up. Badal said the Census exercise is expected to take place early next year, and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would try to hold elections as soon as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is completed.
He made these remarks while inducting 31 out of 51 independent candidates, who were elected as councillors in the recent civic polls and have extended support to SAD.
He added that the remaining 20 councillors will also join the party in the coming days.
Badal accused the AAP of sponsoring booth capturing during the recent civic body polls, saying, “It was a government-sponsored booth-capturing exercise as out of the 1,977 wards, SAD fought on 1,251 seats.
While in the other 726 wards, the party could not contest as the documents of the candidates were rejected.”
He said the rejection and repression let loose by the ruling party, including the arrest of party district president Satish Grover in Faridkot, as well as action against Akali workers in Majitha, had triggered resentment against the AAP government.
He gave the example of how a SAD candidate in Zirakpur alleged that he lost despite securing the highest number of votes in the civic body polls. He cited similar examples in Malout, Muktsar, and Kota Fatta.
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