Akali leaders skip opening of BJP candidate’s poll office

Raj Sadosh

Abohar, January 14

No official of the district and local units of SAD turned up at the opening ceremony of the election office of BJP candidate Arun Narang here on Saturday.

Former state president Prof Brij Lal Rinwa, former MLA Dr Ram Kumar Goyal, district president Vishnu Bhagwan Delu and others were present as veteran BJP activist Raj Tondon inaugurated the office amid the performance of rituals.

During the media interaction later, BJP leaders claimed they had invited SAD leaders even after they had participated in a procession taken out to express solidarity with liquor baron and murder accused Shiv Lal Doda, who filed his nomination as an Independent yesterday.

Conceding that some saffron party activists, besides the Akalis, had betrayed “alliance dharma” in 2012 also by supporting Doda in the Assembly elections, senior BJP leaders said, “Forget the past, we (in BJP) are united now and hope good sense will prevail in SAD too.”

They said that the party high command has been informed about the attitude of the Akalis and the matter might be taken up with the SAD top brass.

Asked whether it was right on part of SAD local leaders to meet Doda in Fazilka sub-jail on January 4 reportedly to discuss election strategy, Narang said no one was above the law.