Tit-for-tat: SAD fields BJP leader from Kalanwali

six days after the BJP nominated sitting Akali Dal MLA Balkaur Singh from the seat, SAD has fielded inducted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajinder Singh Desujodha

In a tit-for-tat, the Shiromani Akali Dal on Tuesday inducted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajinder Singh Desujodha into the party fold and fielded him from Kalanwali segment. He had unsuccessfully contested the state polls in 2014 on a BJP ticket from the same constituency.

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This has happened six days after the BJP fielded sitting Akali Dal MLA Balkaur Singh from the seat.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal inducted Desujodha into the party. He will file nomination papers on October 3.

Sukhbir said Desujodha has pledged to work for the peace and communal harmony besides resolving grievances of the people of the constituency.

Expressing confidence that the SAD will win the Kalanwali seat, the SAD president said people of the constituency had reposed faith in the party for two consecutive terms in 2009 and 2014 and they will do the same this time as well. Sukhbir said talks with other political parties for an alliance in Haryana were on. “We are confident of arriving at an understanding in a day or two,” he added.

Desujodha said the BJP had betrayed the SAD by co-opting its legislator Balkaur Singh into the saffron party. “The BJP also betrayed me after promising to re-nominate me as the party’s candidate. I will now give an appropriate response to the BJP for these twin betrayals by ensuring Akali Dal victory,” he said.