Ludhiana, March 20 -- In a major jolt to Manpreet Singh Ayali a large number of grass root leaders expressed their full confidence and stout support in favour of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as well as its former chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday..

A large number of Circle Jathedars of Dakha, Chairmen, Sarpanches, presidents of different wings and associations, and grass root leaders met Badal at his residence in Badal village and made it clear that the SAD had their unstinted support and that they would never align with the splinter group led by Manpreet Ayali.

Speaking on the occasion, the leaders said their forefathers had made immense sacrifices for the Panth and had always supported the SAD through thick and thin. They said t...