5 former Akali leaders join BJP ahead of Punjab polls

Five former Shiromani Akali Dal leaders and a former TV host joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday as the saffron party works to strengthen its presence in Punjab, a state set for a multi-cornered contest in the assembly polls scheduled for early next year.

Amanjot Kaur Ramoowalia, a former member of Akali Dal's women wing and daughter of former Union minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Gurpreet Singh Shahpur, Chand Singh Chatha and Baljinder Singh Dakoha, all associated with the former BJP ally, joined the saffron party in presence of a number its leaders, including cabinet minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Pritam Singh, a Dalit leader formerly associated with the SAD, and Chetan Mohan Joshi, a former TV anchor, also joined the party.

Welcoming them, Shekhawat said their joining the BJP showed which way the wind is blowing in Punjab before the elections and alleged that some parties, which have been 'rejected' across the country, are misleading farmers in their quest for power.

People, however, are aware that the Modi government is working in national interest and for development of Punjab, he added, noting that the leaders who have joined the party are 'well-known' and come from families with a long political background.

BJP general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam said people of Punjab want peace and happiness, and are looking at Prime Minister Narendra Modi with hope. They see the BJP as the alternative, he claimed.

Another party general secretary Tarun Chugh also spoke.

With Punjab farmers, most of whom are Sikhs, seen to be unhappy with the three farm laws enacted by the Modi government, the BJP has been reaching out to them.