The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday announced candidates for 22 wards of the municipal corporation, Bathinda, while seven independent candidates filed their nominations.
With two days remaining for the filing of nominations, the SAD is yet to decide candidates on six of the 28 wards it would contest on. As part of the seat-sharing formula, the SAD's alliance partner -- the BJP -- will contest on the remaining 22 seats in the 50-ward municipal body.
Voices of dissent within the SAD emerged after the announcement of candidates with former SAD councillor from Ward No 33, Tek Singh Khalsa, resigning from the party after he was denied the ticket.
In Patiala, the SAD and BJP have locked horns over seat-sharing in majority of the four municipalities falling in the district -- Nabha, Samana, Patran and Rajpura. The two parties have reached a consensus only in Nabha.
Of the total 88 seats falling in the four municipalities, the SAD is claiming to contest on 48, leaving the rest to the BJP. However, the BJP is said to be demanding more seats at Samana and Patran while the SAD is demanding more seats in Rajpura.
For the Nawanshahr municipal council elections, the parties announced a joint list of 19 candidates leading to revolt within the SAD led by Jagjit Singh Lalli, Manjinder Singh Walia and Harprabhmehal Singh, who accused Nawanshahr constituency in-charge Satinder Kaur Kariha and district president Ram Singh Dudhala of not holding any meeting with them before preparing and announcing the list.
At Fatehgarh Sahib, out of 74 wards of four councils, 53 seats of three councils have been divided amicably among the SAD and BJP while 21 seats of the Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib council are yet to be divided. The SAD wants to leave only seven of the 21 seats here for the BJP, which is demanding 12.
{{/usCountry}}At Fatehgarh Sahib, out of 74 wards of four councils, 53 seats of three councils have been divided amicably among the SAD and BJP while 21 seats of the Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib council are yet to be divided. The SAD wants to leave only seven of the 21 seats here for the BJP, which is demanding 12.
{{/usCountry}}At Mansa, the BJP was eager to field its candidate from ward numbers 5, 12 and 21, but later it was decided that the BJP would field its candidate only from Ward No 12. "Earlier, we thought the SAD would contest on 14 seats and we on 13, but later we wee given 12 seats and the SAD will now fight on 15 seats in Mansa," a BJP leader said.