SAD to contest 35 seats in Uttar Pradesh on its own: Sukhbir

SAD has appointed observers to strengthen the party in UP, says the Deputy CM

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today announced that the party would contest 35 seats out of 403 constituencies on its own in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, which is scheduled to be held in 2017.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said that SAD had appointed observers to strengthen the party in UP.

The SAD President said the party was hopeful of "good results as we have identified 35 seats having considerable population of Punjabis."

"The Punjabis, especially farmers, were facing lots of problems due to their non-representation in the state Assembly there and the SAD will fight to fulfil their aspirations in the state," he said in a release.

To spearhead the election campaign in UP, he said the party observers for all the 35 constituencies would be announced later, along with party's poll agenda.

Announcing party observers for the state, SAD chief said that senior party leader and former Union minister Balwant Singh Ramuwalia, Lok Sabha member Prem Singh Chandumajra and president SAD SC/BC wing Gulzar Singh Ranike have been made party observes for Uttar Pradesh.