Jassi’s key aide to join SAD

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 11

Former Congress minister Harminder Singh Jassi’s close aide Iqbal Singh Babli Dhillon, who was earlier PPCC secretary, is set to join SAD in the presence of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal here on Saturday.

Dhillon met Sukhbir last month and their meeting had fuelled speculations regarding the former joining SAD ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

His step also indicates that he may have been assured of a key post in SAD and bigger responsibility in the coming days.

Dhillon had resigned from the Congress in August last year after PPCC general secretary Sandeep Sandhu issued a show-cause notice to him for his alleged anti-party activities.

The notice was issued on the complaint of councillors Jugraj Singh and Nirmal Kaur over holding parallel meetings in the city.

The councillors had lodged a complaint with Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar, seeking action against Jassi’s key aide.

They had alleged that Dhillon was holding public meetings in the name of Captain Amarinder Singh and promising people to get their works done.

Earlier, when Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and Jassi were in the city on the same day, both would hold separate public meetings. Jassi has not shared dais with Manpreet ever since the latter became MLA from Bathinda (Urban).

The reason behind bitterness between the two leaders is that Jassi had become MLA from Bathinda in 2007 and had unsuccessfully contested in 2012, but in 2017, Manpreet Badal succeeded in getting the ticket from Bathinda, forcing Jassi to shift to Maur.

Meeting with Sukhbir

• Iqbal Singh Babli Dhillon met Sukhbir Badal last month and their meeting had fuelled speculations regarding the former joining SAD ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 
• His step also indicates that he may have been assured of a key post in SAD.