New Delhi, Nov 13: BJP received yet another jolt ahead of the assembly polls today with the president of Delhi Sikh cell Bhajan Singh Walia quitting over ticket distribution alleging "insincerity" towards interests of the community. Walia, who charged the BJP with giving "losing" seats to the ally Shiromani Akali Dal, joined Congress in protest against the move.

"If the BJP were sincere for the interest of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, it should have given the seats dominated by the community," he told insisting that he was not consulted despite his heading the Sikh cell that is supposed to look after the interests of the community. "BJP only talks about the interests of the Sikhs. But on the ground its approach is different," said Walia who sent his resignation letter to Delhi BJP president Madan Lal Khurana.

He said along with him the head of Sikh cell's women wing Balwinder Kaur had also resigned from the party.

"I have joined Congress under the able leadership" of Sonia Gandhi, Sheila Dikshit and Prem Singh," he said, claiming that his move had been appreciated by both BJP and Congress workers of Delhi. Earlier, a former MLA Rajesh Sharma had resigned from the party five days back for being denied ticket to him.

The party's New Delhi district chief K N Sachdeva had publicly voiced his opposition to ticket distribution in five assembly segments in his area after which he was suspended from the party. The suspension was revoked within hours.

Bureau Report