Regional parties a key factor in many states'

PUNJAB is headed for a four-cornered poll battle involving AAP, Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Congress, following the parties' failures to forge an INDIA bloc or BJPSAD alliance.

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Of the two alliances, the latter broke down as SAD, headed by Sukhbir Singh Badal, insisted on its principles, which meant the release of some Sikh prisoners (bandi Singhs) who have served their jail terms and the demands of farmers and farm labourers, said Sukhbir in an interview with Harpreet Bajwa. Excerpts:: SAD has decided to go it alone this polls after 1996.

Why couldn't the SAD-BJP alliance take place?

For us, our principles are most important. We cannot compromise on our principles and core issues. This is why we raised issues like according the MSP a legal sanctity, and honouring all promises made to farmers during the farmer agitation, releasing Sikh detainees who have been jailed for as many as 28 years even after completing their life terms, and stopping interference in the religious affairs and institutions of the Sikh Panth. We will perform well in the polls.