BARNALA: The factionalism in Shiromani Akali Dal came to fore in Barnala area on Thursday when the former Punjab cabinet minister Gobind Singh Kanjhla leveled various charges against former Union minister and Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and accused him of weakening the party.
Kanjhla on Wednesday was removed from the unofficial post of area in charge of the Mehal Kalan assembly constituency, which falls in Barnala. Kanjhla accused Dhindsa of ensuring his removal as halqa (area) in charge.
Interestingly, there is no provision of area in charge in the constitution, but the practice is prevalent since long and the defeated candidate of the ruling party calls the shots as area in charge wherever the elected MLA is from the opposition party.
Even the grants, developmental works are routed through the area in charge and works as de facto leader. Kanjhla had lost the 2012 assembly election to Congress' Harchand Kaur but was appointed as halqa (area) in charge by the ruling SAD.
SAD president on Wednesday had removed Kanjhla on the recommendations of Dhindsa as Kanjhla had declined to toe the line desired by Dhindsa for choosing candidates for Zila parishad, panchayat samiti elections to be held on May 19.
Kanjhla accused Dhindsa of weakening party in the area and said, "Its (removal) has been done at the behest of Dhindsa as he wanted to provide tickets for Zila Parishad, Panchayat samiti elections to the persons, who had opposed party candidate in assembly elections and were expelled from SAD. As I was opposing it, Dhindsa ensured my removal".
Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa denied the allegations and said these are being leveled out of sheer frustration.
Earlier too, Kanjhla had leveled various charges against Dhindsa in 2002 when he (Kanjhla) was denied a SAD ticket.
Kanjhla had remained embroiled in controversies when was minister in Badal cabinet from 1997 to 2002 for having fights with teachers, nurses.
Later, he crossed swords with Punjab financial commissioner revenue Rupan Deopl Bajaj and Sangrur DC Hussan Lal in 2002-03 as an MLA on the issue of job to his son. Kanjhla said I will fight out the injustice meted out to me.
Kanjhla on Wednesday was removed from the unofficial post of area in charge of the Mehal Kalan assembly constituency, which falls in Barnala. Kanjhla accused Dhindsa of ensuring his removal as halqa (area) in charge.
Interestingly, there is no provision of area in charge in the constitution, but the practice is prevalent since long and the defeated candidate of the ruling party calls the shots as area in charge wherever the elected MLA is from the opposition party.
Even the grants, developmental works are routed through the area in charge and works as de facto leader. Kanjhla had lost the 2012 assembly election to Congress' Harchand Kaur but was appointed as halqa (area) in charge by the ruling SAD.
SAD president on Wednesday had removed Kanjhla on the recommendations of Dhindsa as Kanjhla had declined to toe the line desired by Dhindsa for choosing candidates for Zila parishad, panchayat samiti elections to be held on May 19.
Kanjhla accused Dhindsa of weakening party in the area and said, "Its (removal) has been done at the behest of Dhindsa as he wanted to provide tickets for Zila Parishad, Panchayat samiti elections to the persons, who had opposed party candidate in assembly elections and were expelled from SAD. As I was opposing it, Dhindsa ensured my removal".
Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa denied the allegations and said these are being leveled out of sheer frustration.
Earlier too, Kanjhla had leveled various charges against Dhindsa in 2002 when he (Kanjhla) was denied a SAD ticket.
Kanjhla had remained embroiled in controversies when was minister in Badal cabinet from 1997 to 2002 for having fights with teachers, nurses.
Later, he crossed swords with Punjab financial commissioner revenue Rupan Deopl Bajaj and Sangrur DC Hussan Lal in 2002-03 as an MLA on the issue of job to his son. Kanjhla said I will fight out the injustice meted out to me.