SAD thinks beyond Punjab

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) plans to field candidates in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha elections in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who on Friday made the announcement here after the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected members of the block samitis and zila parishads, also said the party might also fight the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi and Haryana.

Confident after victory in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) elections, Sukhbir said the Akalis had consolidated their vote bank outside Punjab and were ready to expand their area of activity there.

On fielding Lok Sabha candidates from Haryana and Delhi, there is no final decision yet within the party but going by the eroding credibility of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre, general elections before December seemed possible indeed, said Sukhbir.

On People's Party of Punjab (PPP) leader Manpreet Badal's joining hands with the Congress, Badal said it was forgone conclusion the moment Manpreet had resigned from the SAD. He described Manpreet's move as inconsequential, saying: "Zero plus zero will still remain zero."

No power cuts on the domestic sector, said Badal, but added that industry would have to bear these for a few days, as the central grid was not allowing Punjab to purchase more than 5,300 megawatts of electricity in view of last year's grid failure.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.