Jhinda’s party unlikely to contest elections

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, January 21

The Janata Akali Dal (JAD) is unlikely to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in the state as the party has slowed down its activities as its president Jagdish Singh Jhinda has not been keeping well.

Jhinda resigned from the post of the president of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) recently because of health issues. He had floated the JAD in June 2017.

The JAD had announced to contest four Lok Sabha seats — Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Sirsa — and 29 Assembly seats in 11 districts of the state.

Joga Singh, JAD general secretary, told The Tribune over phone: “The political activities have come to a standstill as Jhinda has been unwell for the past six months. The JAD had planned to contest the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Local units were also formed, but the party is unlikely to field candidates.”

As for supporting candidates from other parties, the JAD has adopted a wait and watch policy.

“At present, there is no discussion related to the elections, but the party may support any other outfit. We are waiting for him (Jhinda) to recover. We will take the opinion of other party members and then decide,” Joga Singh said.

About the HSGMC presidents’ post, Joga Singh said: “A general body meeting has been called on January 30 in Kaithal, where the new president will be elected. At present, senior vice-president Didar Singh Nalvi has been given the charge of acting president.”