Days after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) announced support to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the byelection to the reserved seat of Jalandhar West, the party candidate Surjit Kaur on Tuesday joined the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday, four days after her party announced support to the Bahujan Samaj Party in the election to the reserved seat.
Notably, the SAD, led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, withdrew its support to the party candidate Surjit Kaur after a section of Akali leaders turned rebel. SAD’s rebel leaders, including Prem Singh Chandumajra, Bibi Jagir Kaur, and Gurpartap Singh Wadala, cited her modest background as the reason why the party decided to disown her, adding that this would not have happened if the candidate were wealthier.
However, SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema argued that Surjit Kaur “a weak candidate” was nominated by rebels within the party deliberately to lose the election to defame party chief Sukhbir Badal. He also claimed that the SAD had already decided not to contest the Jalandhar West seat. The party then opted to support the BSP candidate instead, he added.
The rebels have questioned why the decision was made after the deadline for withdrawing nominations had passed.
Despite withdrawing support, SAD had allowed Surjit Kaur to use the party’s symbol to contest the bypoll, which has been necessitated by the defection of AAP MLA Sheetal Angural to the BJP in March, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Surjit Kaur’s husband Jathedar Pritam Singh also served the people and was also an MC. Surjit Kaur herself is a two-time councillor.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who inducted Kaur into the AAP at his home in Jalandhar, said the two-time municipal councillor had been mistreated by the SAD.
“Surjit Kaur and her entire family are very religious people who have great empathy for panth, Punjab and Punjabis in their hearts…This family has fought for Punjab and Punjabiyat, they even went to jail to protect the rights of Punjab. AAP is very fortunate to be the first and only choice of the people who want to serve Punjab and Punjabis,” he said while welcoming her to the party.
Mann also said that the condition of Akali Dal is miserable today, it is very unfortunate that after announcing Surjit Kaur their candidate they refused her any support. “Like always they are putting their personal selfish agendas above the people and Punjab,” he added.
Thanking the Chief Minister, Surjit Kaur said that she took a decision for Jalandhar West and its people. “The people come to me for help and regarding their works, but Sukhbir Badal has denied my candidature and any kind of help. That is why I took a step towards a party which is working for the common people and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is working for the development of every area of Punjab,” she said.
AAP candidate for the bypoll Mohinder Bhagat said that Jathedar Pritam Singh ji was a big Akali leader who had an important place in SAD. “Today, Bibi Surjit Kaur ji has left Akali Dal and joined AAP after seeing CM Bhagwant Mann's policies and his work…Her support and experience will help him a great deal in Jalandhar west by-poll,” he added.
