SAD’s Gidderbaha constituency in-charge Dimpy Dhillon quits party

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 25

Giving a major jolt to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), its Gidderbaha constituency in-charge Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon on Sunday quit the party.

He was being projected as the party candidate for upcoming Gidderbaha bypoll.

While making the announcement, Dimpy turned emotional and said, “I resign from all posts of the SAD today. Further decision will be taken after getting suggestions from my supporters. I congratulate them (the Badals), whose family has united. People like us are made to be used. I also became a victim of this.”

Later, in a video on his Facebook page, Dimpy said, “In January, Sukhbir ji told me that Manpreet (Badal) wants to join the SAD. I said it is fine. He asked me if I wanted to do politics or not. This language did hurt me badly. He asked me to go to Talwandi Sabo, but I said I will sit at home. He called me again after two days and said it was a joke. I again started my work in Gidderbaha. He was my elder brother and a political mentor.

“One day Biba ji (Harsimrat) announced Sukhbir ji will contest from here. He, however, the next day, told me to contest the election. Meanwhile, Manpreet started his activities here. It created doubt among the public. Manpreet now visits people, but doesn’t ask them to join the BJP. I again asked Sukhbir ji to announce the candidate and if you contest, I will back out. I felt like I was a problem between the two brothers and was feeling suffocated. Our friendship of over 30 years has succumbed to nepotism. I seek pardon if I said something wrong against your (Badal) family. Please pardon me.”

Notably, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal toured the constituency along with Dimpy for four days recently. Further, Sukhbir was scheduled to come on Monday to take a tour of the constituency again.

Earlier in the day, Dimpy’s younger brother Sunny Dhillon had told The Tribune that the "family will be leaving the SAD".

"We are upset for the past some time. The party president is not naming Dimpy as their candidate and has cordial relations with his cousin Manpreet Singh Badal, who is now a BJP leader. We requested Sahib (Sukhbir) a number of times to say in public meetings that those who are supporting Dimpy are supporting the SAD. However, he did not say this. Neither did he name Dimpy in any public meet. Now, we are leaving the SAD. We cannot work with Manpreet," he said.

There are rumours that Dimpy may join the AAP on Monday and become its candidate for Gidderbaha bypoll.

Meanwhile, the SAD in a statement issued after Dimpy’s resignation clarified that it did not intent to bring any leader from other party for forthcoming by-election in Gidderbaha.

Party’s spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said all such speculations were false and baseless. He said the party fully depended on Dimpy, trusted and supported him for the forthcoming bypoll.

Cheema said that SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had openly advocated in meetings that Dimpy was the best candidate for the party from Gidderbaha.

He said the "official announcement on Dhillon’s candidature could not be made as the SAD’s Parliamentary Board was still in the process of collecting feedback from party workers for fielding candidates".

SAD Spokesman Dr Daljit S Cheema clarified that party has no intention to bring any leader from any other party into SAD in Giddarbaha with the intention to field him as a candidate. Neither the party has discussed such move with anybody. Such news are totally false & baseless.…

— Dr Daljit S Cheema (@drcheemasad) August 25, 2024

Cheema also urged Dimpy not to be "misled by propaganda being unleashed by forces inimical to the SAD".

The Gidderbaha seat has fallen vacant after three-time MLA and PCC chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring got elected as MP Ludhiana in the recently held Lok Sabha election.

Of the total 14 Assembly elections held in Gidderbaha, the SAD has won nine. Former CM Parkash Singh Badal remained MLA here for five times in a row in 1969, 1972, 1977, 1980 and 1985.

Later, in 1995, during the bypoll, Badal handed over this constituency to Manpreet, who became MLA for four times in a row from here in 1995, 1997, 2002 and 2007. However, Manpreet as a PPP candidate lost to first-time Congress candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring in 2012 from here.