Sukhbir Singh Badal inducts 31 Independent councillors into SAD, party strength rises to 243 in civic polls
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal inducted 31 Independent councillors into the party after Punjab civic polls. SAD claims support of 51 Independents, taking its total tally to 243 wards and securing majority in nine municipal committees
PTC Web Desk: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has inducted 31 Independent councillors into the party after they extended support to the SAD following the recent civic polls in Punjab. The remaining 20 councillors are expected to join the party shortly.
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, Sukhbir Singh Badal said with the support of 51 Independent councillors, the total number of wards won under the SAD leadership had increased to 243. The party had originally secured victory in 192 wards on its own symbol.
The SAD chief also claimed that the party had secured a complete majority in nine municipal committees, compared to six won by the Congress and two by the BJP. The committees where the SAD secured a majority include Maluka, Kot Shamir, Bhagta Bhaika, Bhucho, Nathana, Lehra Mohabbat, Sangat, Kot Fatta and Rahon.
Sukhbir Singh Badal further stated that the SAD emerged as the leading party in terms of votes polled in several committees, including Faridkot, Mehraj, Majitha and Maur. He alleged that in some places, SAD candidates were declared defeated despite receiving the highest number of votes.
Citing an example from Zirakpur, he claimed that a SAD candidate was shown as having secured the highest votes in the Returning Officer’s certificate but was later declared defeated in favour of an AAP candidate. He also alleged similar irregularities in Malout, Muktsar and Kot Fatta.
Expressing satisfaction over the party’s performance, the SAD president said the party had performed better than the Congress despite facing political pressure and administrative hurdles. He alleged that the AAP government attempted to block SAD candidates by rejecting nomination papers and misusing police machinery during the elections.
“SAD contested 1,251 seats, nearly 300 fewer than the Congress, which fought 1,550 seats. Despite this, the Congress could win only around 150 more seats than SAD,” he said.
Sukhbir Singh Badal also accused the Bhagwant Mann-led government of political vendetta against SAD leaders and workers. Referring to the recent case registered against senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, he termed the action politically motivated.
He alleged that while no action was taken against AAP leader Talbir Gill in a separate incident involving the release of a worker from police custody, false cases were being registered against Bikram Singh Majithia to target opposition leaders.
The SAD leader said public resentment against the AAP government was growing due to alleged repression and police action against Akali workers in places like Faridkot and Majitha. He asserted that the people of Punjab would give a strong response to the ruling party in the upcoming Assembly elections.