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Chandumajra returns to Badal group

Staff Correspondent

He is now candidate for the Lehragaga Assembly seat

CHANDIGARH: Though the former Akali Whip in Parliament, Prem Singh Chandumajra, and the former Minister, Baldev Singh Mann, on Wednesday announced the "unconditional merger" of their factions with the Shiromani Akali Dal, the chief of the latter, Parkash Singh Badal, reciprocated by announcing their candidatures from Lehragaga and Dirba constituencies for the Assembly elections in Punjab, where polling is scheduled for February 13.

Mr. Chandumajra who is considered a staunch loyalist of 27 times President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the late G.S. Tohra and Mr. Mann who is close to Tamil Nadu Governor, S.S. Barnala, had been expelled by Mr. Badal in 2004, for alleged anti-party activities. Mr. Chandumajra's candidature from Lehragaga is worth noting as the constituency has returned the present Deputy Chief Minister, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, three times consecutively.

The merger was preceded by an appeal from Mr. Badal, who had sought unity of various Akali factions, to ensure the defeat of the Congress in the state. On Wednesday morning, accompanied by senior leaders, Mr. Badal called on Mr. Chandumajra at his residence and was closeted with the other office-bearers of the Longowal faction for almost an hour. The total number of Akali contestants has now risen to 64, after Mr. Badal has released a list of 62 candidates last week. As per the seat sharing formula in the 117 member house, where elections are to be conducted, the Akali Dal has left 22 seats to its alliance partner the BJP. Addressing reporters, Mr. Chandumajra said that the decision to effect the merger with Mr. Badal's party was taken at the meeting of the political affairs committee of the Longowal faction on Tuesday.

Describing the event as homecoming, the Akali leader said the decision was based on the "need to put a united front" to not only defeat the Congress, but address the actual problems of the people which included degradation of education and health facilities, growing unemployment, unprecedented corruption, stagnation in the agriculture economy and apathy towards the needs of the weaker sections of society.

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