Days after the former Congress MP Jagmeet Brar turned into an Akali, his “saathi” on Sunday returned to the Congress fold. Former MLA and senior party leader Vijay Kumar Sathi, four years after he quit Congress’ primary membership along with several others in Brar’s support, rejoined the party.
Known as a leader with a clean image, “secular thinking”, “educated” and honest character, Vijay Saathi is the son of former MLA and Moga’s mass leader Roop Lal Saathi.
He had unsuccessfully contested for the Congress from Moga in 1997, and also 2013 Moga by-elections.
After quitting the Congress party in January 2015, Saathi said that he was “completely disillusioned” by Brar’s unilateral decisions to join Trinamool Congress and then Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Expressing himself to be relieved at being back “home”, a former Janata Dal MLA from Bagha Purana Saathi promised to work hard for the success of the Congress in these parliamentary polls, and thereafter.
Welcoming him, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh pointed out that the influx into the Punjab Congress was a sign of the growing disenchantment within other parties active in the State’s political arena.
Capt Amarinder said that he was happy to have Saathi back in Punjab Congress just days ahead of the Lok Sabha poll in the State, and was confident the party would benefit from his experience.
The polling for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held in the seventh and final phase on May 19.