Dimpy Dhillon to join AAP tomorrow, will seek some assurances from Bhagwant Mann

Tribune News Service

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Gidderbaha/Muktsar, Aug 26

The day after Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon resigned from all posts of SAD, including that of party’s Gidderbaha constituency in-charge, he held a meeting in Gidderbaha today and announced that he and his supporters would join the AAP in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Gidderbaha on August 28.

Related news: Dimpy Dhillon a ‘frustrated man’: Manpreet Badal

Meanwhile, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal too had called the party workers from Gidderbaha at his Badal village residence here and again appealed to Dimpy to rethink his decision.

“Dimpy is like my younger brother and was undoubtedly our party candidate for Gidderbaha. He was in touch with the AAP for the past two months. He must have some compulsions or personal interest. I will wait for his final decision for 10 days and then make an announcement of party candidate,” said Sukhbir, while addressing party workers.

He further claimed that these were false rumours that BJP leader Manpreet Badal would be fielded by SAD from Gidderbaha in the upcoming bypoll. “Manpreet is my brother, but he is in the BJP and our paths are different. The party is supreme for me and I have never backstabbed anyone,” said Sukhbir to his party workers.

Earlier in the day, Dimpy claimed that Sukhbir had made some phone calls to him last night and even sent his trusted aides, but someone warned him that if he would go back at this stage, he would be left nowhere.

During his public address, Dimpy said, “I have got offers from the BJP, Congress and AAP. However, you all have asked me to join the AAP. I will speak to the AAP leadership and if the CM agrees to resolve the long-pending issues of our constituency and gives a financial package for the town, then only I will join the AAP. I will also get an assurance from the CM that the farmers of this area will continue getting water through their pipelines (water lifting pumps installed along the Sirhind feeder canal).”

Dimpy had yesterday left the SAD after claiming that both Badal brothers (Sukhbir and Manpreet) were united and he was feeling suffocated as there was no surety of his ticket.

On this, PCC chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said, “I have been saying this since the 2022 state elections that both Sukhbir and Manpreet are united. Now, Dimpy too has said the same. The crisis in the SAD has deepened as the man who was campaigning with Sukhbir in the constituency has left the party. The situation in the AAP is also not good as the volunteers are being ignored.”

Gidderbaha seat has fallen vacant after Warring got elected as Ludhiana MP.

Meanwhile, SAD workers gathered at Sukhbir’s residence today and appealed to him to contest the Gidderbaha bypoll, saying that there was no big leader left in the party in Gidderbaha now.