Four SAD leaders, including two sitting Punjab legislators, join Congress Party

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 6

In another setback to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), four leaders, including two sitting MLAs, joined the Congress in Delhi on Tuesday.

The leaders are Rajinder Kaur Bhagike, MLA from Nihal Singh Wala; Mahesh Inder Singh, MLA from Bagha Purana; Ajay Sharma, a social activist from Phillaur; and Pritam Singh Kotbhai.

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Expressing their disillusionment and anger with the Akali leadership, the leaders alleged that they had always been loyal to the party, but could not allow themselves to be slaves to the Badals. Not only were they deprived tickets to contest the forthcoming Assembly polls, but were also “threatened and terrorised”, they alleged.

Captain Amarinder Singh said the exodus of leaders and workers from the SAD and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would further increase as the elections draw closer, especially after the imposition of the Code of Conduct in Punjab.

Amarinder Singh said that he met Navjot Singh Sidhu today.

“Met Sidhu, he's inclined to support the Congress,” said Amarinder.