SAD ex-minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan set to join AAP

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, August 25

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will visit Sekhwan village, 6 km from Qadian, tomorrow to facilitate the joining of former SAD Cabinet Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan into the party fold. Qadian is one of the seven Assembly seats of Gurdaspur district.

This development is preceded by hectic behind-the-scene political manoeuvers by Sekhwan and his son Jagroop Singh Sekhwan. A fortnight ago, AAP state affairs co-in charge Raghav Chadha met the Sekhwans at their Mohali residence where the final decision on the induction of the senior Sekhwan was taken.

He is likely to be fielded from the Qadian seat. At present, the seat is represented by Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa. Former PCC chief and two-time MP Partap Singh Bajwa and his wife, Charanjit Kaur Bajwa, have also represented this seat.

Kejriwal will be accompanied by senior leaders, including state AAP president MP Bhagwant Mann, MLA Jarnail Singh and halqa in charge of Sri Hargobindpur Amarpal Singh.

AAP has already finalised the names of three halqa in charges from Gurdaspur district. These are Amarpal Singh (Sri Hargobindpur), Balbir Singh Pannu (Fatehgarh Churian) and Shelly Kalsi (Batala). The party has already decided to field halqa in charges as its candidates. Sekhwan, too, will be bracketed in that category till the party formally comes out with the final list of its candidates.

Sekhwan, who for the last few days has been indisposed and is recuperating at his native village, remained Revenue, Rehabilitation and Public Relations Minister in the Parkash Singh Badal Cabinet from 1997 till 2002. He also remained Education Minister from 2009 till 2012 in the Badal Cabinet.