Different radical organisations, including Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) United Akali Dal (UAD), Akali Dal Independent and Akali Dal( 1920), have formed a ‘Panthic front’ to contest all the 117 seats in the coming Punjab assembly polls . SAD (A) chief Simranjit Singh Mann and UAD president Mohkam Singh confirmed the same on Saturday. Mohkam said the list of candidates will be out within a week.
In a meeting with party workers on Thursday, Mann had announced that the list will be released at a press conference in Chandigarh on Monday. However, Mohkam on Saturday said they were in talks with some other Delhi-based leaders and process of finalising names might take 2-3 days more.
They were also in touch with JD(U) leader KC Tyagi, Swaraj Abhiyan party leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav and suspended Aam Aadmi Party MP Dharamvira Gandhi. “We cannot confirm the names right now but, yes, we have approached some leaders,” said Mohkam, adding, “Everyone who wants to save Punjab is welcome to join us.”
Meanwhile, according to a press note issued from Mann’s office, a committee to coordinate with ‘panthic organisations’ has been constituted and Krishan Chander Ahuja will do the screening of candidates. Though the process of making election manifesto is under process, the front’s main issues are eradicating drugs, rooting out corruption and ‘justice’ in Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege incidents.