With just two days left for filing nominations for SAS Nagar municipal corporation (MC) elections, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance, has not been able to reach a consensus on distribution of tickets.
The stalemate continued on Monday with no leader coming on record to speak about the matter. Meanwhile, the Congress on Monday declared its candidates for 46 out of 50 wards. The MC polls will be held on February 22.
Sources said seat division was the major reason for the parties not being able to declare their candidates. They claimed that while the BJP wanted to contest on 18 seats, the SAD was agreeing only on 12.
Though BJP district president Sukhwinder Singh on Sunday said they would announce their own candidates if the SAD failed to divide the seats by 12pm on Monday, no action was taken by the BJP by Monday evening.
Sukhwinder could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. The leaders kept repeating the entire day that they were in meeting and would share the details soon, but nothing was finalised till the filing of the report.
Senior Akali leader Balwant Singh Ramoowalia said there was no disagreement and it was only that the members were unable to reach consensus on division of the seats. “All I can say is that both the parties (SADBJP) will contest together and picture will be clear by Tuesday.”
{{/usCountry}}Senior Akali leader Balwant Singh Ramoowalia said there was no disagreement and it was only that the members were unable to reach consensus on division of the seats. “All I can say is that both the parties (SADBJP) will contest together and picture will be clear by Tuesday.”
{{/usCountry}}Sources further revealed that besides no consensus on seat division, both SAD and BJP wanted to contest from ward numbers 20, 24, 25 and 35.
SAD observer Mahesh Inder Grewal said, “Both the parties are together and there are some issues that are being sorted out and a list of those contesting from the alliance will be declared soon.”
Congress yet to declare candidates in 4 wards
Local Congress MLA Balbir Sidhu said, “We are all sorted out. Only four wards are left as we have more than one contestants who can be fielded. They will be finalised by Tuesday.”