At a press conference here, the Finance Minister discounted reports that there was a rift between the two alliance partners in the state.

Earlier, at a meeting of circle jathedars of Patiala and Sangrur districts at the Circuit House here, the delegates demanded the expulsion of ten party legislators who had been criticising the Akali Dal and were still members of the party.

The meeting, which was held to discuss the poll strategy for the forthcoming parliamentary elections, decided that two preparatory meetings would be held in each circle.The first of the series of meetings would be held at Patiala on July 3.

Participants in the meeting also demanded the immediate removal of the district Akali jathedars of urban and rural units of Patiala district who had switched loyalties to the new political outfit floated by former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution asking the Akali Dal president to nominate Surjit Singh Rakhra as the party nominee from the Patiala parliamentary seat. It placed on record its appreciation of Rakhra's contribution to social welfare and to the Panth.

Members at the meeting said that several developmental projects were being held up because of the paucity of funds. Kanwaljit Singh told them that a meeting of the District Planning Board would be held the next day and that the funds required would be allocated to projects to improve water supply and lay new roads. He said new roads of 20-km length would be built in each Assembly segment.

Chhaju Ram Sofat and Prem Mehta, both prominent Akali leaders who earlier owed allegiance to the Tohra group, announced their decision to join the Shiromani Akali Dal led by Parkash Singh Badal.