Denied ticket from AAP, Jashandeep Sandhu indicates shift to TMC

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 22

Jashandeep Sandhu, a great grandnephew of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, is likely to join the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Jashandeep Singh said, “It’s true that we are in talks with the party, but the final decision shall be announced in a couple of days.” Formerly a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jashandeep was denied ticket from the Nawsanshahr seat. After former Congress leader Charanjit Sigh Channi was accorded the AAP ticket, Jashandeep was reportedly disillusioned with the party. AAP youth wing leader Baljit Singh who also had charge of Pathankot and Gurdaspur from the party are also likely to make the shift.

In a meeting held with the TMC state president Jagmeet Brar which went on late in the night, several AAP dissidents were in attendance. While both the leaders were also present at the TMC Doaba party office’s opening in Jalandhar on Wednesday, TMC state president Jagbir Brar, had on the same day hinted that ‘honest’ AAP leaders, especially martyrs’ kin looking for a political alternative, shall be welcomed by the Trinamool Congress.

Jashandeep Sandhu also indicated that in the coming days some more eminent leaders might also join the TMC. He said, “We had been associated with the anti-corruption movement since the India Against Corruption days. In the Aam Aadmi Party, a potent alternative for issue-bases politics was envisioned. However, with the coming of Jagmeeet Brar the hope of another alternative is being seen, which might allow us to voice our concerns and qualms regarding the status quo in an effective manner.”

While Jashandeep Singh is the great grandson of Surjan Singh (brother of Bhagat’s grandfather Arjun Singh), he is the first member from the clan to make a shift from AAP to TMC. Another relative of Bhagat Singh – his niece Gurjit Kaur Dhatth – has also been lying low ever since she was denied an AAP ticket from Tanda. The ticket was instead given to candidate Jasbir Singh Raja.

Harbhajan Singh, husband of Dhatth said, “Instead of fielding a person with a clean image like my wife, the party fielded a person with a tarnished image who is out on bail in four cases.”