BJP, Akali Dal don’t see eye to eye even as time runs out

The differences regarding the exact seats is yet to be resolved as Akalis are adamant about Sikh-dominated areas like Hari Nagar, Kalkaji and Tilak Nagar which the BJP has refused to part with. In fact, there were visible signs of disagreement as Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) representatives Avtar Singh Hit, Delhi state unit president, and S.S. Dhinsa, general secretary, Akali Dal, were seen walking out of the meeting for a private discussion.

Sushma Swaraj who was also part of the meeting later clarified that all was fine between them. “They have agreed that they will not ask for seats which belong to our ministers,” she said, ruling out Poornima Sethis’s Kalkaji and Harkishan Singh Balli’s Tilak Nagar. “Minor points need to be sorted out later,” she added.

The “minor points” are which seats to be given in place of Hari Nagar and Tilak Nagar. “The choice will be between Gandhinagar, Rajouri Garden, Subzi Mandi and Jungpura,” said V.K. Malhotra, in charge of negotiationg on behalf on BJP. It is however decided that four seats will be given to the Akali Dal.

The Akalis seem to be satisfied with Vishnu Garden, Jangpura, Lajpat Nagar and Gandhinagar, but they also want the plum seat of Tilak Nagar. “We want at least one winning seat,” said Hit. The only bone of contention, it is a challenge for BJP to give them an agreeable alternative.

With hardly any time left, the leaders of the two parties would be meeting again tomorrow morning in a last bid to come to an amicable arrangement.