Sukhbir’s aide quits party, joins Congress

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) suffered a setback in its bastion Jalalabad segment as two-time market committee chairman Davinder Singh Babbal left the party to join the Congress. PPCC president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of the Opposition Partap...

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Fazilka, Updated At : 07:07 AM Oct 20, 2024 IST

Senior Congress leaders welcome new leaders into the party.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) suffered a setback in its bastion Jalalabad segment as two-time market committee chairman Davinder Singh Babbal left the party to join the Congress.

PPCC president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa inducted him and his supporters into the party in the presence of senior Congress leader Hans Raj Josan in Chandigarh on Friday.

Babbal is said to be a former close aide of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal who represented the Jalalabad constituency thrice. Babbal’s daughter-in-law also remained chairperson of the Zila Parishad, Fazilka.

Babbal said he remained with the Akalis for 45 years, but had to leave the party due to its anti-worker policies for the past few years. Some outsiders had been thrust upon party workers in the Jalalabad segment, he alleged.

Former president of the truckers’ union Surinder Singh Kamra also joined the Congress.