Amritsar, January 15
After roping in several prominent Congress and rebel Akali leaders, the Shiromani Akali Dal supremo, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today held an hour-long closed-door meeting with Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, the Akali MLA from Naushehra Pannuan, who is annoyed over denial of party ticket to his near and dear ones from Tarn Taran and Khadoor Sahib.

After paying obeisance at Golden Temple, Mr Badal straightway went to the residence of Mr Brahmpura, opposite the Khalsa College. Mr Brahmpura reportedly conveyed his displeasure to Mr Badal that his men had been ignored. However, Mr Badal reportedly asked Mr Brahmpura that the coming Assembly is “do-and-die electoral battle” for the party and hence he (Mr Brahmpura) should cooperate with him to ensure victory of the Akali candidates.

It is learnt that Mr Badal told Mr Brahmpura that his men would be accommodated to the plum posts after formation of the SAD-BJP government.

The SAD chief promised Mr Brahmpura to meet Mr Alwinder Singh Pakhoke, a former working president of the SGPC, at his residence. Mr Pakhoke has been denied the ticket from Tarn Taran Assembly seat. He had served an ultimatum on the SAD chief to allocate party ticket to him by changing the nomination of Mr Harmit Singh Sandhu from there. So much so, the supporters of Mr Pakhoke had threatened that he would contest as a rebel Akali candidate.

However, it could not be confirmed yet that whether Mr Badal would also meet the son-in-law of Mr Brahmpura, Mr Adeshpartap Singh Kairon, during his proposed visit to Tarn Taran tomorrow.