In another setback to the Aam Aadmi Party, three of its rebel MLAs including the former leader of opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, on Thursday joined the Congress in presence of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. Other two rebel AAP MLAs included Jagdev Singh Kamalu and Pirmal Singh Dhaula.
Sharing photos of AAP rebel MLAs joining the Congress, the official handle of the Punjab Congress tweeted, “Chief Minister @capt_amarinder Singh before leaving for Delhi today welcomed @SukhpalKhaira MLA and former Leader of Opposition and his two AAP MLA colleagues namely Jagdev Singh Kamalu, MLA Maur and Pirmal Singh Dhaula, MLA Bhadaur into the party fold.”
Chief Minister @capt_amarinder Singh before leaving for Delhi today welcomed @SukhpalKhaira MLA and former Leader of Opposition and his two AAP MLA colleagues namely Jagdev Singh Kamalu, MLA Maur and Pirmal Singh Dhaula, MLA Bhadaur into the party fold. pic.twitter.com/wMe9d5AMYU
— Punjab Congress (@INCPunjab) June 3, 2021
The development assumes significance given that Punjab goes to polls in February next year. Arvind Kejriwal-led party had failed to win more than 20-odd seats in the Punjab assembly in 2017.
After quitting the AAP, Khaira had formed his own party, Punjab Ekta Party.
The development took place just before Amarinder Singh left for Delhi, where he was expected to meet the Congress high command. The Punjab chief minister has been facing a rebellion of sorts within his own party.