Ex-Akali, Cong leaders join BJP

New Delhi, Dec. 29: Ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls, former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Jagdeep Singh Nakai and former Congress MLA Shamsher Singh Rai joined the BJP in the presence of Union minister Gajendra Shekhawat on Wednesday.

With an aim to expand its base in Punjab, where it has always played second fiddle to its former ally SAD, the BJP has been roping in leaders from various political parties, including the Congress.

The saffron party has announced its alliance with former Punjab chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh’s party Punjab Lok Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) led by Sukdev Singh Dhindsa.

Former SAD leaders Ravipreet Singh Sidhu, Harbhag Singh Desu and Nakai and former Congress MLA Rai joined the BJP on Wednesday.

Welcoming them into the party, Mr Shekhawat, who is the BJP’s poll incharge for Punjab, said these leaders are joining the party as they believe in its vision of a new Punjab and in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

He further claimed that the development shows in whose favour the wind is blowing in Punjab.

With Covid-19 cases rising again, Mr Shekhawat, also the BJP’s poll in-charge for Punjab, said that if situation demands the party is ready to hold virtual rallies as it has done in previous elections.With the emergence of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus, several states, including the poll-bound UP, have announced night curfews and other curbs.

Asked that whether the BJP is ready to hold virtual rallies, he said, “The BJP is fully prepared. The BJP did virtual rallies during the Bengal Assembly polls also. during the first and the second wave of Covid-19 even at that time BJP workers were reaching out to people through virtual platforms.”