Bathinda, February 6: Parallel Akal Takht acting Jathedar Bhai Dhian Singh Mand, who led the Bargari Insaf Morcha, today said they would contest the Lok Sabha elections, terming it as the second phase of the morcha.
Addressing a press conference here, Mand said they had decided to carry forward their struggle politically now, as they wanted to rid Punjab of both Congress and SAD. He announced four candidates. They are Vikramjit Singh Sodhi from Anandpur Sahib, SAD (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann from Sangrur, United Akali Dal (UAD) president Bhai Mohkam Singh from Khadoor Sahib and UAD leader Bhai Gurdeep Singh Bathinda from Bathinda.
He said these candidates would contest from their respective parties, but under the banner of Bargari Insaf Morcha. He said they would announce the remaining candidates in the coming days.
Also sending contradictory signals, Mand said they were holding talks with like-minded parties like the SAD (Taksali) and Punjabi Ekta Party for forging an alliance. He said they had constituted a three-member panel to coordinate with these parties.
Mand claimed that there was no rift between him and parallel Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal and expressed hope that he would join them soon. He denied the charge that they ended the first phase of the morcha in haste, claiming that they had achieved their objective.
