Mann announces third front formation

SAMANA, July 27: Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann today announced formation of a third front in Punjab with his party, the Akali Dal (Democratic) headed by Kuldip Singh Wadala, Akali Dal (Panthic) of Jasbir Singh Rode, Samajwadi Party, AISAD, BSP and the Janata Dal as the constituents.

Addressing a press conference, he said the decision to form a front had been taken at a recent meeting of leaders of all these parties. The formal constitution of the front and its nomenclature would be announced on July 30 at Ferozepur. The front was likely to be named the United Democratic Front.

Mann said the matter of sharing of seats for the ensuing elections would be decided soon and Bhai Ranjit Singh would have the final say in the matter. He added that the main purpose for the coming together of these parties was to defeat the Akali Dal headed by Badal.

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He alleged that the state Public Relations Department had been working for furtherance of the electoral interests of SAD (Badal) and he had sent a complaint to the Election Commission about this.

Mann sought extending the facility of postal ballot for Sikhs settled abroad as had been extended to migrants from Jammu and Kashmir.