Rival factions of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) members in the district today presented a united face ahead of Lok Sabha elections next year with their leaders coming together for a political rally in nearby Sirhind town.
Akali sources said that even though most of the gathering for the rally was mobilised by SAD General Secretary and former MP, Prem Singh Chandumajra, former MLA Didar Singh Bhatti and his supporters, too, participated in it.
To have two leaders of rival groups jointly attend a function was a rare occurrence for party workers, sources added.
And, while addressing the gathering, Chandumajra even acknowledged Bhatti's presence at the rally.
The ruling SAD is split into two factions in the Fatehgarh Sahib Assembly constituency - one headed by Chandumajra and the other owing allegiance to Bhatti.
Both leaders lost the last Punjab Assembly elections from Fatehgarh Sahib constituency with Kuljit Singh Nagra of Congress emerging victorious.
Bhatti had contested on a Peoples Party of Punjab (PPP) ticket while Chandumajra had represented SAD.
Following the Assembly elections, Bhatti rejoined SAD after deserting PPP.
The rally was attended by, among others, SAD president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Punjab Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal and PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon.
They were here to lay the foundation stone of the Bharonpur bypass connecting the Chandigarh-Sirhind road and the Ludhiana-Rajpura road.
