In another step towards forming a united opposition against the ruling SAD-BJP combine in Punjab, the Congress party on Sunday get a major push with Akali splinter group Shiromani Akali Dal (longowal) headed by former Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala’s wife formally merging with it.
The SAD (longowal) on Sunday announced its “unconditional merger” with the Congress.
Earlier this year, former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal led People’s Party of Punjab that had cost the Congress party successive defeat in 2012 state assembly polls merged with the Congress.
Time and again, Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh has been insisting on coming together of all like-minded parties to put up a united opposition to oust the SAD-BJP regime, which has been ruling in Punjab since 2007.
Capt Amarinder on Sunday made it clear that the Congress is in touch with other opposition parties in the State, but, at the same time, ruled out joining hands with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
“Congress welcomes all secular forces to come together for ousting the ruling Akali-BJP combine in the state. I have held meetings with the CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and am open to more alliances,” said Capt Amarinder.
He, however, said that there was “no chance of joining hands with BSP” and accused its supremo Mayawati of “helping” the Akalis all the time.
Capt Amarinder said that SAD (longowal’s) merger will strengthen the party ahead of 2017 assembly polls in the state. “Merging of SAD-l into the Congress and earlier that of the PPP is reflective of a positive trend towards Congress. People of Punjab are fed up with the nine years of misgovernance by the Badals and they wanted the Congress to form government in the state,” he said.
In opposition since past two terms, the Congress party is leaving no stone unturned to ensure party’s victory in the ensuing polls, especially at a time when the resurgent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also surging ahead and could spoil Congress’ prospects.
“SAD (longowal) headed by Surjit Kaur Barnala has decided to unanimously merge their party with Congress. I welcome them in the Congress. This will give us much greater strength,” said Capt Amarinder.
The merger was announced jointly at a press conference by the leaders of the two parties in presence of hundreds of party workers who had converged from different parts of Punjab.
Senior Congress leaders including party’s state campaign committee head Ambika Soni and party’s state affairs in-charge Shakeel Ahmed, were also present, besides SAD (l) leaders Gaganjit Singh Barnala and Baldev Singh Mann.
Capt Amarinder said that the Barnala family has been at the forefront of Punjab politics and former chief minister Surjit Singh Barnala has also contributed his lifetime for the state and its people.
Barnala is the former Governor of Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands and an ex-Union Minister. He had been with Sant Harchand Singh longowal, who had inked the famous Rajiv-longowal accord, to bring peace in Punjab during the troubled days of militancy.
“I have known Barnala sahib for a long time and have been a Minister in his Ministry and he has contributed his entire life for Punjab and he and his family have been all over Punjab,” he said.
The merger came days after the Barnala family met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her vice-president son Rahul Gandhi last week and the decision to merge their outfit was taken during the meeting.
Speaking after the merger, SAD (l) president Surjit Kaur Barnala said: “Going by Punjab’s present conditions, we feel this is the right decision. Punjab’s future is with Capt sahib (Amarinder Singh) and we hope he will live up to the expectations. He has served Punjab earlier and we also have a lot of hope on him, that is why we have merged our outfit.”
Talking to the reporters, Mann said that the Congress under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh was the only hope for Punjab.
Surjit Barnala and Mann said that Capt Amarinder had proven credentials of not only providing a brilliant administration, but also putting his personal and political career at stake when it comes to watching and safeguarding the interests of Punjab.
They said that there was no other or better leader than Capt Amarinder who can lead Punjab from darkness to light and a bright future.PNS n Chandigarh
In another step towards forming a united opposition against the ruling SAD-BJP combine in Punjab, the Congress party on Sunday get a major push with Akali splinter group Shiromani Akali Dal (longowal) headed by former Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala’s wife formally merging with it.
The SAD (longowal) on Sunday announced its “unconditional merger” with the Congress.
Earlier this year, former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal led People’s Party of Punjab that had cost the Congress party successive defeat in 2012 state assembly polls merged with the Congress.
Time and again, Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh has been insisting on coming together of all like-minded parties to put up a united opposition to oust the SAD-BJP regime, which has been ruling in Punjab since 2007.
Capt Amarinder on Sunday made it clear that the Congress is in touch with other opposition parties in the State, but, at the same time, ruled out joining hands with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
“Congress welcomes all secular forces to come together for ousting the ruling Akali-BJP combine in the state. I have held meetings with the CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and am open to more alliances,” said Capt Amarinder.
He, however, said that there was “no chance of joining hands with BSP” and accused its supremo Mayawati of “helping” the Akalis all the time.
Capt Amarinder said that SAD (longowal’s) merger will strengthen the party ahead of 2017 assembly polls in the state. “Merging of SAD-l into the Congress and earlier that of the PPP is reflective of a positive trend towards Congress. People of Punjab are fed up with the nine years of misgovernance by the Badals and they wanted the Congress to form government in the state,” he said.
In opposition since past two terms, the Congress party is leaving no stone unturned to ensure party’s victory in the ensuing polls, especially at a time when the resurgent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also surging ahead and could spoil Congress’ prospects.
“SAD (longowal) headed by Surjit Kaur Barnala has decided to unanimously merge their party with Congress. I welcome them in the Congress. This will give us much greater strength,” said Capt Amarinder.
The merger was announced jointly at a press conference by the leaders of the two parties in presence of hundreds of party workers who had converged from different parts of Punjab.
Senior Congress leaders including party’s state campaign committee head Ambika Soni and party’s state affairs in-charge Shakeel Ahmed, were also present, besides SAD (l) leaders Gaganjit Singh Barnala and Baldev Singh Mann.
Capt Amarinder said that the Barnala family has been at the forefront of Punjab politics and former chief minister Surjit Singh Barnala has also contributed his lifetime for the state and its people.
Barnala is the former Governor of Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands and an ex-Union Minister. He had been with Sant Harchand Singh longowal, who had inked the famous Rajiv-longowal accord, to bring peace in Punjab during the troubled days of militancy.
“I have known Barnala sahib for a long time and have been a Minister in his Ministry and he has contributed his entire life for Punjab and he and his family have been all over Punjab,” he said.
The merger came days after the Barnala family met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her vice-president son Rahul Gandhi last week and the decision to merge their outfit was taken during the meeting.
Speaking after the merger, SAD (l) president Surjit Kaur Barnala said: “Going by Punjab’s present conditions, we feel this is the right decision. Punjab’s future is with Capt sahib (Amarinder Singh) and we hope he will live up to the expectations. He has served Punjab earlier and we also have a lot of hope on him, that is why we have merged our outfit.”
Talking to the reporters, Mann said that the Congress under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh was the only hope for Punjab.
Surjit Barnala and Mann said that Capt Amarinder had proven credentials of not only providing a brilliant administration, but also putting his personal and political career at stake when it comes to watching and safeguarding the interests of Punjab.
They said that there was no other or better leader than Capt Amarinder who can lead Punjab from darkness to light and a bright future.