SAD ready to form alliance with any party to defeat Cong

Jalandhar, Sep 10 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) general secretary Sukhbir Singh Badal said SAD is ready to welcome any party for alliance for the forthcoming assembly elections if it is ready to defeat ruling Congress.

Mr Badal's remark came at a press conference here today in response to a question about the possibility of poll alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) or Uma Bharati-led Bharatiya Janshakti Party for the next assembly election.

He said, ''we are ready if they want to defeat Congress and have no problem in working with SAD-BJP combine.'' The SAD leader expressed satisfaction over smooth functioning of the SAD-BJP alliance and said talks for seat adjustments are going on and an amicable decision would be taken at an appropriate time.

Over the possibility of fielding sitting BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu against Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in the assembly elections, Mr Badal said the issue was yet to figure formally at party platform.

Mr Sidhu was also present at the press conference.

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