Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday suffered a massive blow ahead of the Shahkot bypoll on May 28 with its leader from Doaba region HS Walia joining the Shiromani Akali Dal along with his supporters.
Walia said that he was joining the SAD due to its “pro-people” policies as well as the party’s desire to take all sections of society with it.
“I earlier joined AAP because it professed idealism. However, I slowly realized that the party had become thoroughly corrupt and is not concerned about Punjabis and their problems. Moreover, AAP is being run from Delhi by Arvind Kejriwal who does not give any weightage to the local leadership,” he alleged.
Welcoming Walia into the party fold, SAD president Sukhbir Badal said that the youth leader had made a name for himself in a short period of time and would be an asset for the SAD in Jalandhar district.
Walia would be duly adjusted in the party organization and would be given important duties, he said.
SAD president said that the manner in which both the Congress and the AAP leaders were joining the SAD was indicative of the Congress government’s functioning as well as complete disillusionment with AAP.
“The political leaders usually
changed parties towards the fag end of any Government’s tenure, but presently, the leaders are leaving the Congress in droves because the party had lost all appeal among the masses after reneging on promises made to the people,” he said.