Ahead of election for new Zila Parishad chairman, Makhan Singh re-joins BJP

Days after the Zila Parishad (ZP) chairman Rajesh Kumar was unseated following a no-confidence motion, Makhan Singh Lobana, a Zila Parishad member and former BJP leader, who had quit the party in 2022, has re-joined the saffron party. Makhan Singh is expected to join the fray for the post of ZP chairman with the support of the BJP.

After quitting the party in 2022, he had joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), contested the Zila Parishad election and won from Ward No. 9.

On Tuesday, Makhan Singh re-joined the BJP with his supporters in Panchkula in the presence of party state chief Mohan Lal Badoli, state in-charge Satish Poonia, and former Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel.

While talking to The Tribune, Makhan Singh Lobana said, “I was impressed with the policies and working style of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. That is the reason I was in the BJP in the past too, but due to some issues, I had to switch to the Aam Aadmi Party. I recently held discussion with the BJP leaders and the issues were resolved. In the meeting with Mohan Lal Badoli, the BJP state chief, and Satish Poonia, state party in-charge, on Tuesday, we had a discussion regarding the party’s policies. We will work together to strengthen the party.”

“Even in 2022, I was in fray for the post of chairman, and if the party gives me an opportunity, I will contest for this post. The tenure of the current Zila Parishad House will end in December 2027. Around two years have been wasted with not much work done. We still have ample time. Soon after the election, we will get grants released and start developmental works. The agenda for the election of the next Zila Parishad Chairman is expected to be issued on Thursday. The BJP will ensure equal developmental works in all wards”, he said.

Makhan Singh, after quitting Indian National Lok Dal, had joined the BJP in 2019, but in 2022, he switched to the AAP, contested and won the election of Zila Parishad in 2022. Later he quit the party in 2024 before the Assembly election.

15-member House

went to poll in 2022

In 2022, Rajesh Kumar had won the election from Ward No. 1 as an independent candidate. He joined the BJP after the election. However, just before the Assembly election, he switched to the Congress. In November last year, a no-confidence motion was passed against him and he had lost the motion by 11 votes. He approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and a status quo was ordered. In July this year, the court quashed the impugned proceedings and remitted the matter to the authorities concerned to conduct the proceedings for the removal of the petitioner (chairperson) from the post of Zila Parishad, in accordance with law. On August 27, members of the Zila Parishad unseated Chairperson Rajesh Kumar Laddi by passing a no-confidence motion against him. Rajesh Kumar had accused the BJP of conspiring against him as he had joined the Congress. There are 15 members in the house of the Zila Parishad.