AMRTISAR, Aug. 27 -- Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday alleged that the Shiromani Akali Dal was desperate to return to power and was seeking an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to achieve this goal.

Addressing a 'Lok Milni' gathering at Chawinda Devi in Majitha constituency of Amritsar, Mann said Punjabis would never forgive the BJP-SAD combine for "pushing the state into the drug menace," and would send both parties into political oblivion.

"The Akali leadership is desperate to return to power in the state. For this purpose, they are seeking to join hands with the BJP again to plunder the state, but the wise people of Punjab will once again oust them," Mann said.

The chief minister's remarks came amid renewed spe...