Manpreet’s campaign gets a shot in the arm

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 16

Congress candidate from Bathinda (Urban) Manpreet Singh Badal’s campaign today got a shot in the arm when Apna Punjab Party (APP) Bathinda city president Ashok Singla today joined the Congress in the presence of Manpreet’s father Gurdas Badal in a function held in the area near the Canal Colony police station.

In another development and major setback to the SAD-BJP alliance, two sitting councillors, along with the SAD circle president, have joined the Congress.

The SAD circle president, Ashwani Bunty, had quit the party and had joined the Congress and his wife Sukhwinder Kaur, who is a sitting councillor from Ward No. 45, is also set to join the Congress on January 19.

Ashwani Bunty said he had joined the Congress and his wife would join the party on January 19 during a function in his area.

He said the reason behind his joining the Congress was that two swords could not be contained in one sheath as the SAD leadership honoured Vijay Kumar, who contested against the SAD in the MCB elections, with a party position.

BJP councillor from Ward No. 24 Priyanka Goyal has joined the Congress. While talking to Bathinda Tribune, Priyanka said: “She had joined the Congress as a few months ago she had some family problems. However, SAD candidate Sarup Chand Singla failed to help us during that period, which we did not like. Hence, now we have decided to support Manpreet Badal.”

Even another sitting Independent-turned-SAD councillor from Ward No. 42 Pardeep Kumar Gola is expected to leave the party. However, a final decision regarding the same had yet to be taken.

While talking to Bathinda Tribune, Pardeep said the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had approached him to join their parties. But he had not taken any decision regarding it yet as he had called a meeting of his supporters on January 18 in his area and a final decision would be taken after consulting them.