Barnala to oppose party candidate

By Sarabjit Pandher

SUNAM (Sangrur), SEPT. 23. With less than a week to go for polling to the important by-election for the Sunam seat in the Punjab Assembly, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has suffered a major setback with the faction owing allegiance to former Union Minister, Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala, openly declaring war on the Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, whose son is the party candidate here.

The decision of the Barnala faction, which wields major influence in the constituency, could well upset the plans of the ruling party, especially the Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, to wrest the seat from the Congress.

At a meeting of his supporters, on Friday, organised in his ancestral house in Barnala town of Sangrur district, Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala decided not to campaign for the party candidate. His supporters openly announced that they would campaign for Mr. Prem Singh Chandumajra, fielded by the conglomerate of fringe Akali factions and opposition parties ``Sanjha Morcha'' which also claims the support of CPI(M). These leaders include the Administrative Member of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), Mr. Baldev Singh Mann, former State Minister, Mr. Surinder Singh Dhuri, and senior vice president of the of the Youth Akali Dal, Mr. Gurinder Pal Singh Dhanuala.

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