Delhi Elections: SAD Decides Not To Contest Polls; Cites Difference of Opinion With BJP On CAA

Shiromani Akali Dal an age-old ally of the BJP, said it was asked by BJP to change stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal/ Image: PTI

New Delhi: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has announced that it will not contest the forthcoming Delhi Assembly polls, citing rifts with ally Bharatiya Janata Party over seat-sharing and party’s stand over Citizenship Amendment Act. The party said it was asked by BJP to change stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act. Addressing a press conference, SAD leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that during three poll-related meetings with the BJP, his party was asked to consider its stand on CAA. "During our meeting with the BJP, we were asked to reconsider our stand on CAA but we declined to do so. Shiromani Akali Dal is of the firm stand that Muslims cannot be left out of CAA. "We are also strongly against the National Register of Citizens (NRC)," Sirsa, who contested on a BJP ticket from Rajouri Garden seat, said. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, along with Union Minister and state election in-charge Prakash Javadekar announced its allies for the upcoming Assembly polls. However, the name of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was conspicuous by absence in the list of allies announced by the BJP. In a first, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to accommodate Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. The Delhi BJP is yet to announce candidates on 10 seats. The nominations for Delhi assembly polls are to concluded on January 21 and polls are set to take place on February 8. The result will be declared on February 11.