CHANDIGARH, July 23 -- A day after senior leader Iqbal Singh Jhundan and 15 others from Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) announced their unconditional support to Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), the party's secretary general, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, said the organisation never authorised him to announce an alliance with any political faction.

"By making such an announcement, Jhundan is misleading the Panth and Punjab for narrow political interests," Wadala said.

He said Jhundan was free to join any political party if he disagreed with the organisation's ideology or policies, but had no authority to announce an alliance on its behalf. "Without forming a separate party, announcing an alliance with another political faction amounts to deceiv...