Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday suffered a serious jolt when its Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya’s son, Davinder Singh Ghubaya, joined the Punjab Congress unconditionally, along with his uncle and supporters.
Davinder and his uncle Munsha Gubaya, brother of Sher Singh Gubaya, joined the Congress, along with Rajat Nehra, Pt Anand Sharma and Rajinder Kaur, in the presence of Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh.
An IIT-Roorkee graduate, Davinder’s decision to join the Congress come just weeks ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab, and follows a spate of disillusioned Akali leaders moving to the Congress.
Among the senior SAD leaders who have joined Congress in recent days were MlAs Rajinder Kaur Bhagike and Mahesh Inder Singh, besides former MP Amrik Singh Aliwal. Before that, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Pargat Singh and Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu had also joined the Congress.
Welcoming Davinder, Munsha and the others into the party fold, Capt Amarinder said that it endorsed the Congress policies and promises to the people of Punjab and also reflected the total rejection of SAD, which had plunged the State into chaos and devastation through 10 years of its misrule.
On Davinder contesting the Assembly election on a Congress ticket, Capt Amarinder said that it was up to the party high command to take any decision in this regard.
He reiterated the Congress stand on winnability being the sole criteria for ticket allocation from any constituency for the forthcoming Assembly polls, while adding that if Davinder’s candidature is approved by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he could be the party’s youngest candidate in these elections since he turned 25 just a few weeks ago.
To a question if the joining of Davinder, a Rai Sikh, would benefit the Congress, Capt Amarinder said that the community was expected to play an important role in Jalalabad, Fazilka, and Ferozepur urban and rural segments, as well Ajnala and Jagraon.
There are 24 seats with a strong Rai Sikh influence, Capt Amarinder pointed out, when asked if Davinder’s joining was a setback for the Badals and the Rai Sikhs.
Davinder, who had been working for the SAD for the past six years, said that he had been actively handling his father’s campaign and work. “I wanted to work for the betterment of Punjab, which I felt only the Congress is equipped to ensure,” he said.