SAD likely to issue whip to its MPs

In more bad news for the UPA, Shiromani Akali Dal on Thursday said it was likely to issue whip to its eight MPs to vote against the Congress-led government during the trust vote next week.

"We may issue the whip in a day or two (to MPs)," SAD general secretary and parliamentary board member, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa told PTI over phone.

Asked if a decision had been taken in this regard, Dhindsa said, "we will decide by tomorrow".

He said SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal was in Delhi and the decision on issuing whip will be taken soon.

Dhindsa's statement comes two days after Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had said that SAD would not issue any whip "as there were no differences among party MPs on the nuke issue".

On Tuesday, putting to rest all speculation on party's stand on the nuclear deal, Badal said it would vote against the UPA government during the trust vote.

"The SAD has a clear-cut policy against the Congress. After detailed discussions, the party has decided not to support the Congress-led government during the trust vote," Badal had reporters here on July 15.

Badal had categorically said the party would not abstain from voting, adding "our MPs will not run away from the battlefield".