‘Ignored’, Cong’s Lambi leader Gurmeet Singh Khudian quits, may join another party

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 23

Senior Congress leader Gurmeet Singh Khudian from Lambi today quit the party, saying he was feeling ignored. He took the step when PCC chief Navjot Sidhu’s installation ceremony was underway.

Gurmeet said: “We were feeling ignored for long, so decided to quit the Congress. Nobody heard our genuine issues. Even Capt Amarinder Singh after contesting the Assembly election from Lambi in 2017 did not visit the place even once. We feel embarrassed over issues such as sacrilege, drugs, etc.”

Gurmeet, 59, son of former MP Jagdev Singh Khudian, said he would contest the Assembly polls from Lambi. “I may join some other party to contest the polls,” he said.

Gurmeet claimed that some Congress leaders had today gathered at his village and quit the party along with him. “I congratulate Sidhu on becoming the PCC chief. He had yesterday tried to persuade me over the phone,” he said.

Political observers say since Gurmeet holds sway in Lambi, his decision may dent the party’s vote bank and benefit the SAD. “Now, the Congress is left with two senior leaders in Lambi — Maheshinder Singh Badal, who has already announced that he would not contest the polls, and Jagpal Singh Abulkhurana,” said a party leader.