CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will contest in Haryana in the 2019 general elections as the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has ruled out a reconciliation due to their divergent stands on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
The SYL canal and share of its water are contentious issues in Punjab and Haryana.
The SAD will hold its first election rally on August 19 at Pipli. Akali MP Balwinder Singh Bhundar was appointed as the chief organiser of the rally
In 2009 and 2014 elections, SAD had managed to get only two seats (Kalianwali and Ambala) in Haryana with the support of the INLD.
For years, the SAD supported the INLD in Haryana despite its own alliance with the BJP
in Punjab.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the party has started bracing up for the Parliamentary elections in Haryana. “The party would sound the poll bugle for Lok Sabha elections with its first election rally at Pipli on August 19. It was decided in a meeting held with the district party observers from Haryana.”
Sukhbir said Haryana state unit president Sharanjit Singh Sotha as well as the state president of women wing, Ravinder Kaur Ajrana, submitted a report which was unanimously approved by all observers.