NEW DELHI: Akali Dal’s Delhi unit delays support declaration for Delhi, Haryana polls, citing demands for farmer protests.
The Delhi unit of Akali Dal has yet to declare its support for any party contesting elections in Delhi and neighbouring Haryana. The Akali Dal is not contesting elections in these two states, despite the fact that Haryana and Delhi have a good number of Sikh voters, The Akali Dal unit of Delhi said it will announce its support in the first week of May.
Paramjit Sarna, former president of the Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, told The Sunday Guardian, “We have communicated our three demands to all the political parties, and those who support our demands, we will support them in the Lok Sabha elections.” The three demands include finding a solution to the ongoing farmers protest and the liberation of Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences and visas on arrival for Sikh pilgrims in the pilgrimage sites in present-day Pakistan, especially Nankana Sahib Gurudwara.
The Sikhs constitute about 12% of total Delhi voters and the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, which manages nine Gurudwaras and various hospitals and schools, has a significant influence on the Sikh voters.
According to party insiders, Akali Dal will extend their support to the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, keeping in view the breakdown of the SAD-BJP alliance. However, they will not campaign for the I.N.D.I.A .bloc but support them, as they believe that the anger over farmers protests is still alive in the minds of Sikh voters.