Setback for BJP as leaders join Cong

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 25

Two more senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today joined the Congress in the presence of its candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal and local unit chief Pardeep Chhabra.

After being formally inducted into the party fold, Roopinder Singh (Roopi Singh), who was earlier the BJP state convener and also president of the BJP industry cell, said, “I am thankful to Manpreet Badal and Bibi Rajinder Kaur Bhattal for convincing me to join the Congress. Bansal has always worked for the welfare of the city,” he said.

Following in his footsteps, his wife Balwinder Kaur (Rana Kaur), a former general secretary of the women’s wing of the BJP, said both she and her husband were once close to Kirron Kher, but some internal party issues led to their joining the Congress. SS Bhardwaj, another BJP leader, also formally joined the Congress today. Chhabra welcomed Roopi and Balwinder with garlands.

Bansal spoke about how cooperative societies in Chandigarh came into being and how during the BJP tenure they faced problems. “I assure that if voted to power, I will deal with these issues the way these need to be dealt with instead of burdening residents with unjustified taxes/penalties.”

Among other Congress leaders present on the occasion were HS Lucky, Ronny Singh, HL Kundra and Devender Babla.

Bansal to file papers today 

Pawan Kumar Bansal, Congress candidate from Chandigarh, will file his nomination papers on Friday at 11 am. He will start from Congress Bhawan in Sector 35 with Congress workers at 10 am.