In a major setback to People’s Party of Punjab president Manpreet Singh Badal, two of his close confidants — Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon and SAD MLA Jagbeer Singh Brar — joined the Congress on Sunday.
Sukhjit Singh Kaka Lohgarh member of SGPC also joined the Congress. All three were formally associated with SAD (Badal). Mr Dhillon a former MLA from Faridkot and Mr Brar sitting Akali MLA from Jalandhar Cantt had joined hands with Mr Manpreet Badal to form People’s Party of Punjab. They were among the founder members of the PPP.
Announcing their joining the party, Capt Amarinder Singh said that these leaders had reposed unconditional faith and confidence in the ideals and principles of the party and hoped that their joining the Congress will further strengthen the party. He said, this was just a beginning and several more, particularly from the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party, were also in touch with the party and may join Congress very soon.
Joining the party, Mr Dhillon said that the PPP has drifted from the real issues, for which it has defected from Shriomani Akali Dal. Charging Mr Manpreet Badal for running the party like a family fiefdom, Mr Brar levelled serious allegations of financial misappropriation against Mr Manpreet Badal. He said, there was no transparency in the maintenance of accounts. He particularly mentioned Mr Badal’s foreign trip from where he collected at least $50,000 and there was no account of this money in the party.