The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), seeking a third consecutive term in Punjab, today asked the party candidates who contested the February 4 Assembly polls to submit reports on the performance of the rank and file in the high-stakes election.
The core committee of the party, led by SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, held its first meeting after the polls here today to thank the voters for a peaceful polling day and discuss the strategy for the upcoming election to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).
Informing this, SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said the leaders who took part in the meeting exuded confidence that the SAD-BJP combine would win the Punjab Assembly polls for the third consecutive time.
The party also asked the candidates to submit reports on the performance of the rank and file within 15 days, he added.
"If the candidates faced any problem from any leader or worker in their areas during the election, they can mention it in their reports for suitable action," Cheema said.
At the meeting chaired by Sukhbir, the party also thanked its leaders, workers and office-bearers for their hard work and dedication to ensure SAD's victory in the Assembly polls.
Giving details about the upcoming DSGMC polls, Cheema said
responsibilities of the leaders would be fixed to ensure the party's victory.
SAD general secretary Harcharan Singh Bains said among the issues discussed at the three-hour-long meeting were the party's strategy and preparations for the DSGMC polls.
"The party feels there is a deep-rooted and dangerous conspiracy by forces inimical to the Khalsa Panth to create confusion and sow seeds of disunity in the Panthic ranks.
"These elements, operating with the help of latest weapons and technology, are using misinformation and disinformation as tools in their modes of warfare to weaken the Sikh community...Their sustained and highly motivated campaign is aimed at depriving the Sikh masses of a credible single socio-political and religious platform," he alleged.
This was the reason behind the "vicious anti-Akali propaganda" carried out by the "anti-Sikh forces acting under the garb of Sikhs" before and during the Assembly polls, claimed Bains.
Notably, the Dera Sacha Sauda, which has its headquarters at Sirsa, had announced support for the SAD-BJP combine for the Assembly polls and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had set up a three-member committee to probe why such an announcement was made.
Those present at the meeting included Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Kirpal Singh Bandugar and Tota Singh among others.
Meanwhile, the SAD today expelled six members for "working against" party candidate Ranjir Singh Gill from the Kharar Assembly seat.
In a statement, SAD chief Sukhbir Badal said chairperson of Mohali Zila Parishad Paramjit Kaur Wadali, chairman of Kurali Market Committee Major Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, Sahib Singh Wadali and Tejpal Singh were expelled from the party.
