AAP leader joins Akali Dal

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 27

AAP suffered a setback in Kapurthala as its leader Sajjan Singh Cheema today joined the SAD in the presence of party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal at Sultanpur Lodhi. Youth Akali Dal president Bikram Majithia and SAD Khadoor Sahib candidate and veteran leader Bibi Jagir Kaur were also present on the occasion.

Having contested as AAP candidate from Sultanpur Lodhi in the 2017 Assembly elections, Cheema joined the SAD in the presence of Bibi Upinderjit Kaur, against whom he had contested. In the 2017 elections, Cheema had received 28,017 votes, while Bibi Upinderjit Kaur received 33,681. Congress’ Navtej Singh Cheema, had won the seat with 41, 843 votes.

The Kapurthala unit of the AAP has suffered a serious setback with two 2017 election candidates and pivotal leaders leaving the party. Cheema’s shift from the AAP has come two days after sitting Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira resigned from the Vidhan Sabha, ahead of filing his nomination for the 2019 parliamentary polls from Bathinda yesterday.

The collective votes of Cheema and Khaira in the 2017 elections were 76,890. Sources said with the two AAP leaders finding new parties — PEP and Akali Dal — their vote bank now lies divided.

An Arjuna Awardee and a former police officer, Cheema served as SSP, Vigilance, and head of the anti-riot police in the state. He joined the AAP in 2016.