Cong ex-MLA Sibia joins SAD, gets Barnala ticket

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24

Former Sangrur MLA Surinder Pal Singh Sibia quit the Congress and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) here today. During a press conference at his residence, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal declared Sibia as the party candidate from Barnala. SAD general secretary Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Barnala halqa incharge Rajinder Gupta were present.

Sibia was elected MLA from Sangrur in 1997, but was shifted in 2002 to Barnala (from where he lost). “I was first sent to Barnala to accommodate Arvind Khanna. Then I was shifted to Sangrur to make way for another moneybag, Kewal Dhillon, in 2007,” he said.

In the Congress’ first list, former MP Vijay Inder Singla got the ticket from Sangrur, while Dhillon was retained from Barnala. Sibia said he was offered the Sunam seat, but he refused to contest from there. The ex-MLA said the Congress had become a party of moneybags.