Sampat Singh to rejoin Congress today

Tribune News Service

Hisar, August 7

Former minister Sampat Singh today said he would join the Congress at the party’s state headquarters in Chandigarh tomorrow. He left the Congress after being denied the ticket in the 2019 Assembly poll.

Speculation on bypoll candidate

• Sampat’s return to the Congress has triggered speculation on whether he could be the party candidate for Adampur bypoll
• The seat fell vacant after the resignation of sitting MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi, who joined the BJP on Sunday
• Sampat had contested on the INLD ticket from the Adampur segment during the bypoll in 2008 and finished third

Sampat held a meeting with his supporters in the Azad Nagar locality of Nalwa segment here today. After interacting with the supporters, the ex-minister said he was joining the Congress in the leadership of state Congress Legislature Party leader Bhupinder Hooda and HPCC president Udai Bhan.

Without naming any leader, he said some leaders had hurt the party during the ticket distribution in the Assembly poll. “Had these leaders with vested interests not been in the Congress, the party would have been in power in 2019 under Hooda’s leadership,” he said while taking an indirect dig at former Adampur MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi.

In 2019, the Congress had given the ticket to Bishnoi loyalist Randhir Panihar from the Nalwa Assembly segment instead of Sampat.

He urged his supporters to forget the differences within the Congress factions and work towards strengthening the party, especially in the Adampur Assembly segment. “I am confident that the Congress will win this bypoll.”

Six-time MLA, Sampat has been a confidant of ex-Deputy PM Devi Lal and ex-CM OP Chautala. He, however, left the INLD after 32 years and joined the Congress in 2009. Later in 2019, after differences with Bishnoi, Sampat joined the BJP.

About The Author

Tribune News Service

The Tribune News Service brings you the latest news, analysis and insights from the region, India and around the world. Follow the Tribune News Service for a wide-ranging coverage of events as they unfold, with perspective and clarity.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.

#Hisar #kuldeep bishnoi