New Delhi: The Congress got a shot in the arm on Tuesday when two sitting Akali Dal MLAs from Punjab joined the party. Mahesh Inder Singh and Rajwinder Kaur Bhagike joined the party in the presence of Capt. Amarinder Singh, PCC chief, giving a major jolt to the state’s ruling Akali Dal. Mahesh Inder Singh represents Baghapurana seat, while Rajwinder Kaur is the MLA from Nihal Singh Wala.
Capt. Amarinder Singh welcomed the two, and said it was just the beginning of an exodus that would intensify as the date of elections near, and specially after the model code of conduct comes into force. He did not spell out whether the new entrants would be given poll tickets or not, saying: “As per tradition, there is no commitment in their joining... They have joined unconditionally. I welcome them into the Congress, and I hope (this) will strengthen the party.”
Capt. Amarinder Singh also announced that he had met cricketer-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who he claimed was “inclined to support” the Congress, and he hinted that Sidhu might join the Congress in the coming days. He also welcomed Akali leader Pritam Singh Kotbhai and Phillaur social activist Ajay Sharma into the party. Mr Kotbhai had lost narrowly to the Congress candidate in the last polls.
The new entrants expressed disappointment with the Akali-BJP combine. Mahesh Inder Singh claimed he quit the party after the police was sent to his home to intimidate him after he was denied a ticket a few months ago. “We can be their loyalists, but not slaves. The insult to me by sending the police to my residence hit me. They think they can terrorise me. I quit the Akali Dal not for the denial of a party ticket but out of humiliation.”
The Congress held its first central election committee meeting, while the next one is expected in the next three to four days. After that, the Congress is likely to release its first list early next week.
