:dateline:Ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and its alliance partner Bhartya Janata Party (BJP) have declared to contest civic bodies polls on their�own in Tarn Taran, Batala and Nadala (Kapurthala). This fact has been revealed by coordination committee of SAD-BJP after a meeting.
It is for the first time in history of the coalition that both the parties part ways in civic body polls. It is also notable that in many cities of Malwa region, BJP has grown its number of seats. In view of tussle going on between two parties, SAD found it in its interests to give more seats to BJP.
Both parties are contesting the elections on their own only in those cities, where grave tension prevailed between them. For example, in Tarn Taran, SAD workers attacked BJP minister Anil Joshi�s brother and other BJP members over the sharing of seats. The attack irked BJP state unit due to which both the parties are not ready to contest elections jointly.
In Batala and Nadala, a meeting held between both party leaders could not reach settlement over the sharing of seats. The situation went out of control. Therefore, both parties decided to part ways in these cities as well.
SAD leaders have claimed that parting ways would not cause any damage in the elections as Congress� position is very weak throughout Punjab.
