By IANS
Jalandhar (Punjab): Punjab Chief Minister and Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal Sunday categorically said his party would go with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) when the government faces the vote of confidence later this month.
Speaking briefly to reporters here after laying the foundation stone of a charitable hospital here Sunday, Badal said there was no question of the Akali Dal supporting the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the confidence vote or on the nuclear deal.
“We will go with the NDA on this,” Badal said.
The ruling Akali Dal was expected in certain political circles to support Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government, despite its long-term political alliance with the BJP.
The Akali Dal and BJP have been running an alliance government in Punjab since March 2007.
The Akali Dal is traditionally identified as a Sikh party from Punjab with rural base. It has 11 sitting MPs in the Lok Sabha out of the 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab.