Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali on July 18 boycotted the Presidential poll, saying issues related to Punjab remain unresolved and he was not consulted by his party leadership before it decided to back the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Droupadi Murmu.
The Dakha MLA said he spoke to voters and workers in his constituency, and took the decision considering the “sentiments of the Panth (Sikh community)“.
The SAD has three legislators in the 117-member Punjab Assembly. Ms. Murmu is pitted against the joint opposition pick, Yashwant Sinha.
