The SAD on Monday received a big shot in the arm in Bathinda Parliamentary constituency with late President Giani Zail Singh’s daughter Joginder Kaur, former president of District Congress Committee (DCC) Anil Bhola and Congress Municipal Councilor Sadhu Ram Kusla, among others joining the ruling party along with hundreds of supporters.
While Kaur has a lot of influence in Bathinda and Faridkot Parliament constituencies, Anil Bhola, a right-hand man of former Finance Minister Surinder Singla, enjoys great support in the urban voters of Bathinda.
An influential landlord, Bhola joined Akali Dal in protest against the Congress’ alliance with PPP president Manpreet Badal, whom they blamed for indulging in land grabbing and ruining the traders and businessmen.
Bhola alleged that Manpreet Badal and his armed supporters had tried to grab their ancestral 16 acre land in 2009, besides grabbing 159 kanal Punjab Wakf Board land meant for International Cricket Stadium, Sethi Petrol pump on the pretext of lease, slapping false FIRs against businessmen and traders including known seed trader of Gidderbaha.