The Aam Aadmi Party and a breakaway outfit of the Shiromani Akali Dal are in talks for an alliance in Punjab for the Lok Sabha election, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday.
He said a final decision on whether an alliance with the SAD (Taksali) would be formed or not would be taken in a couple of days.
“Bhagwat Mann [AAP Punjab convener] is in talks with the Akali Dal [Taksali] over an alliance and a decision would be taken soon,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
The move came after talks for an alliance between the SAD (Taksali) and the Punjab Democratic Alliance failed over the sharing of seats.
Earlier, the SAD (Taksali) had been holding talks with the PDA that comprises former AAP leader Sukhpal Khaira’s Punjab Ekta Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Lok Insaaf Party and Punjab Manch. The SAD (Taksali) wanted to field its candidate, Bir Devinder Singh, from the Anandpur Sahib seat, while the PDA insisted on this seat for the BSP.
The SAD (Taksali) was formed by MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and former MP Rattan Singh Ajnala and Sewa Singh Sekhwan after they were expelled from the Akali Dal for revolting against party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Punjab has 13 parliamentary constituencies.