A day after former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced that he would soon announce his political party and seek alliance with like-minded parties in the state assembly elections, several political parties have reacted to it, including Some have advised them to leave. Congress first, while others called them “BJP’s B team”.
Shiromani Akali Dal (United) president Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and his son Parminder Dhindsa on Wednesday said they have not yet received any proposal for an alliance from Captain Amarinder. There is no contact or proposal for an alliance from Capt Amarinder Singh yet. Captain Amarinder Singh should leave the Congress first.
Calling Captain Amarinder a “Congress man”, Parminder Dhindsa told News18, “Captain Amarinder has been a dismay. We have nothing to do with Amarinder as of now. It is just speculation. Punjab has been divided between Congress, BJP and SAD. An alternative is needed. I still think he is a Congress man and no different.”
Speaking to News18 on Tuesday, BJP leader Harjit Grewal welcomed Captain Amarinder’s decision and said, “It is up to Captain Amarinder Singh to form a party. It will also divide the Congress at the all India level. We welcome this move. The central leadership will decide but we are happy to associate with like-minded people. Captain Amarinder was accepted twice by Punjab and like Badal, he has a base in Punjab.”
However, Congress leader Pargat Singh claimed that both Badal and Captain Amarinder are with the BJP. “Not a post-poll alliance. This is a pre-poll alliance. Badal is also with BJP. I said earlier this month. Captain Amarinder has always had an alliance with the BJP.
Attacking Captain Amarinder, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, “Captain Amarinder is BJP’s B team. So he is also batting to increase the BSF’s influence in Punjab.”
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Singh had resigned as the Chief Minister of Punjab last month after a bitter feud with Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and infighting in the state unit. The Congress appointed Charanjit Singh Channi in his place.
“The fight for the future of Punjab is on. I will soon announce the launch of my political party to serve the interests of Punjab and its people including our farmers who have been fighting for their existence for more than a year. He will not rest until he secures the future of “my people and my kingdom”.
“Punjab needs political stability and protection from internal and external threats. I promise my people that I will do whatever is at stake today to ensure its peace and security.”
“If the farmers’ protest is resolved in the interest of the farmers, then there is a hope of a seat agreement with the BJP in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections,” he said. As well as looking at alliances with like-minded parties such as split Akali groups, especially the Dhindsa and Brahmapura factions,” Singh, who faced an informal exit from the state government last month, said.
Hundreds of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at the borders of Delhi since November 26 last year to demand the repeal of three agricultural laws enacted in September last year. The Akali factions mentioned by Singh belong to Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, who had earlier been expelled from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by Sukhbir Singh Badal for revolting against its leadership. Dhindsa then formed the Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic) while Brahmapura formed the SAD (Taksali). Later, the two leaders formed SAD (United) after the dissolution of SAD (Taksali) and SAD (Democratic).
After resigning as chief minister, Singh had said that he felt “humiliated”. Later, he had also called Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra “inexperienced”. Singh had termed state Congress chief Sidhu as “anti-national” and “dangerous” and said he would field a strong candidate against Sidhu in the upcoming assembly polls. Singh had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi last month and discussed with him the prolonged farmers’ agitation, urging an immediate solution to the crisis with repeal of three agricultural laws.
His meeting with Shah had fueled speculations that he would join the BJP. He later dismissed speculation of joining the saffron party, but said he would quit the Congress, which he insisted was ignoring senior leaders. The 79-year-old leader had then said, “I will not join the BJP (but) I will not be in the Congress party.”
(with inputs from PTI)
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