In a press release issued here today, Badungar said that contrary to reports, Riar continued to be the president of the Chandigarh unit of the party. Badungar said that the party leadership had taken a serious note of the action of certain "mischievous" elements in the party who held a meeting to oust Riar and install another in his place.He said riar was an elected president and if there was any grievance against him, the same would be reported to the party high-command which is the only authority to take action.

He termed his ouster as illegal and said that strict action would be initiated against the guilty.

Meanwhile, a delegation of local Akali leaders led by Gurcharan Singh Palia, along with secretary general and general secretary of the party's local unit N.S. Minhas and Harcharan Singh Sawhney, today met secretary general of the SAD Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who is also incharge of the Chandigarh affairs.

In a meeting held here today, the said leaders also regretted the support of Badungar in favour of Riar, saying that he was not in charge of Chandigarh SAD.