Singh also merged his party ‘Punjab Lok Congress’ with the saffron party
New Delhi: Former Chief Minister of Punjab and veteran leader Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday joined BJP. Singh, who had decades-long association with the Congress party, had formed his own party ‘Punjab Lok Congress’ ahead of state assembly polls. His party had fought Punjab polls in coalition with the saffron party.
Almost one-and-half years ago, the Congress party had removed him from the Punjab Chief Minister post. The Congress’ move had come amid reports of tussle between him and the then Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu. Following his removal, he had parted his way from Congress and had announced to go separate in state assembly elections.
Sing, who joined the saffron brigade at party headquarters in New Delhi, was welcomed by the Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju. Before joining the party, Captain Amarinder Singh met BJP president JP Nadda.
With this, the ex-Punjab CM also announced to merge his Punjab Lok Congress with the saffron party which he had formed last year after snapping his association with the Congress. Along with Captain Amarinder Singh, seven former state legislatures and one former MP also joined BJP.
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that Captain Amarinder Singh always focused on national interest over party politics. He recalled Singh’s support for the expansion in jurisdiction of the Border Security Forces in Punjab. He said that Singh’s joining the BJP shows his commitment for peace and security in the sensitive border state.
“Bharatiya Janata Party is such a party in which it has always been proudly said that the nation is first and the party second. Captain Amarinder Singh Ji always adopted this principle in his life. The result of this is that today we are all together,” Tomar said.
Recently, Singh had gone for spinal surgery in London. After coming back to India, he had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
