2 Akali MLAs join Congress; Navjot Singh Sidhu next, hints Captain Amarinder Singh

NEW DELHI: In a significant prepoll catch for Punjab Congress, two Akali Dal MLAs — Mahesh Inder Singh and Rajwinder Kaur Bhagike — joined the party on Tuesday in the presence of PCC chief Amarinder Singh here.

Another important Akali leader Pritam Singh Kotbhai and known social activist Ajay Sharma too joined the Congress. Captain Amarinder Singh claimed more Akali and AAP leaders are going to join the party soon.

On Navjyot Singh Sidhu, the PCC chief said the cricketer-turnedpolitician would soon take a decision on either joining or campaigning for the Congress.

“I can tell you that I have met him. I hope very soon he will be making his announcement. I found him in a very positive frame of mind. I hope it will be a positive decision,” Amarinder said.

Asked specifically if Sidhu will be formally joining the Congress or not, the PCC chief said, “I think he will announce it himself. Let’s wait for the announcement in a few days time. But the impression I got, without any commitment from his side, is that he was inclined to support us.”

The former Punjab CM said he does not think that Sidhu is interested in contesting the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat and is likely to campaign for the party.

The party is expected to announce its candidates on December 9 or 10, as its Central Election Committee headed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is likely to meet on December 8, where the final list will be drawn up. Top Congress leaders on Tuesday held internal consultations over selection of candidates at the meeting of Central Screening Committee headed by ex-Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.

After joining Congress, Mahesh Inder Singh said, “We can be their (Badals) loyalists but not slaves. The insult given to me by sending police at my residence has hit me. They think they can terrorise me. I have quit the Akali Dal not for being denied a party ticket but out of humiliation”.