In a setback for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the Punjab Ekta Party (PEP) on Thursday announced its merger with the Congress ahead of the Assembly polls in the State after three MLAs — Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Jagdev Singh, and Pirmal Singh — met former Congress president Rahul Gandhi at his residence in the national Capital.
The Punjab Ekta Party MLAs were accompanied by AICC general secretary and Punjab affairs incharge Harish Rawat. Khaira, a former Congressman, had joined Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in December 2015 along with two other MLAs.
He returned to the grand-old party on June 4 saying AAP convener Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is a dictator.
Taking to Twitter, Khaira thanked Rahul Gandhi and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. Khaira also said it was a political blunder to join the AAP.
“The Congress is the only viable platform to fight the fanatic and fascist BJP at the national level and the only option to prevent the corrupt and anti-Punjab Badal family from hijacking the State,” he added.
The Assembly elections in Punjab will be held in February or March 2022. Earlier this week, the SAD and BSP stitched an alliance to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab.