SAD will not contest Delhi polls, BJP asked us to reconsider position on CAA: Sirsa

New Delhi, Jan 20 (PTI) A day before mination for Delhi Assembly polls ends, Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday said it will t contest elections as it was asked by its ally BJP to change its stand on Citizenship Amendment Act, which it has vehemently refused.

S has following in many Sikh-dominated seats like Kalkaji, Tilak Nagar, Hari Nagar and Rajouri Garden in city.

dressing a press conference here, S leer Manjinder Singh Sirsa said during three poll-related meetings with BJP, his party was asked to consider its stand on CAA.

"During our meeting with BJP, we were asked to reconsider our stand on CAA but we declined to do so. Shiromani Akali Dal is of firm stand that Muslims cant be left out of CAA.

Sirsa though a S leer h contested 2017-bypoll election from Rajouri Garden seat on a BJP ticket and he h won it.

He said his party is also “strongly” against National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Delhi BJP chief Maj Tiwari, commenting on development, said it is S's stand t to contest elections.

" Akali Dal is one of our oldest ally. It has also supported us in Parliament over citizenship Law. If y do t want to contest elections, it is ir stand," Tiwari said without commenting furr.

Sirsa declined that his party's decision was prompted by n acceptance of ir seat sharing formula by BJP.

S or Akali Dal h been tritionally fighting on four of 70 seats -Shahdara, Kalkaji, Rajouri Garden and Hari Nagar - in Delhi Assembly polls in alliance with BJP.

In 2013, S h won three of four seats but failed to win even one in 2015 Assembly elections.

" problem is CAA, t number of seats. We are t against CAA but our stand is that Muslims should be part of it," Sirsa said. He said discussion over seat sharing took place during meetings with BJP leers.

“Our alliance with BJP is based on brorhood. alliance brought peace and progress in Punjab. With this stand, alliance is t breaking though,” Sirsa said ducking question wher alliance with BJP remains or t. PTI UJN VIT AQS