Akali Dal to go with NDA in presidential polls

Punjab Chief Minister and Akali Dal Patron  Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday categorically said that his party being a major constituent of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance  (NDA) would support its alliance partner on the Presidential election issue.

Badal said  that as a key ally of the NDA, the Akali Dal was committed to support the line of action as proposed by the NDA. The alliance partners would finalise the strategy on this issue  in the coming days.

“It’s the alliance which will decide its stand over the issue for which the meeting of its major constituents will be convened in coming days,” he said.

The Chief Minister refused to comment on the arm twisting strategy being adopted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to get debt relief package from the Union Government.

He maintained  that the Centre was duty bound to bail out the debt stressed states of the country in general and Punjab in particular, as the state has incurred huge loss due to nation’s war against terrorism.

He reiterated that the Union government must disburse the Central grants in proportion to the share of taxes collected from the states as it would provide the required fillip for the development of the states.