2017 Uttar Pradesh polls: Akali Dal may contest in UP, aims 30 seats

The move, sources told The Indian Express, has the backing of SAD president and Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal.

“We have been holding surveys for the past several months about the feasibility of Akali Dal entering the poll arena in UP, which has a substantial Punjabi-speaking population, including Sikhs. There are around 45 seats where Punjabis can either help a candidate of their choice win or spoil somebody else’s chance. We have identified these seats. We will either contest as part of a pre-poll alliance with the BJP or field candidates on our own. But, we have made up our mind that we will test the waters in the state,” said former UP cadre IAS officer Rai Singh, who has been appointed president of the SAD units in UP and Uttarakhand.

Singh, once an aide of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, also claimed that “many prominent” politicians of other parties are in touch with the SAD to contest the elections.

“These include a district president of the BJP. But, we are not taking a decision on inducting anybody in a hurry,” he added.

Apart from UP, the neighbouring Uttarakhand, which has a considerable number of Punjabis, especially in the fertile Terai region, is also on the SAD’s radar.

“We have been asked to prepare for the Uttarakhand elections too. There are 30-35 seats where Punjabis are in substantial numbers,” Rai said.

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If it eventually contests the UP polls, this won’t be the first time that the Punjab-centric party would fight an electoral battle outside Punjab. In the 2015 Delhi polls, the SAD fielded four candidates on seats that were allotted to it by the BJP, but none of them won. In 2014, the SAD had broken away from the NDA and fielded two candidates in the Haryana election in alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal.

Sources said Sukhbir has also deputed senior leaders to hold meetings with prospective candidates in the two states to guage the SAD’s prospects there.

“Senior leaders have been touring the state. In fact, our first list is ready and is awaiting the approval of the leadership. I have toured UP five times in the past six months. The response was excellent. The Punjabis there need somebody to speak for them,” said SAD general secretary and MP Prem Singh Chandumajra.

But, won’t this spoil the party’s equation with the BJP, with which it is contesting the Punjab polls next year?

“Why should it? Our alliance is limited to Punjab. We are open to alliance in UP also. But, if the BJP doesn’t agree, we will go ahead. Every party is free to chart out its own course for the future,” said a senior SAD leader.