In a significant blow to the Shiromani Akali Dal ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, former party MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu announced his joining of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday in Jalandhar.
Tinu is expected to be the AAP candidate from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency, as per party sources.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann extended a warm welcome to Tinu as he joined the AAP ranks. Alongside Tinu, another prominent Akali leader, Gurcharan Singh, also made the switch to AAP.
Tinu, known for his leadership among Dalits, had previously served as the MLA from the Adampur assembly constituency in Jalandhar district, securing victories in the 2012 and 2017 elections.
However, he faced defeat in the 2022 assembly polls against Congress nominee Sukhwinder Kotli. Tinu had previously contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but was unsuccessful.
The Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, currently represented by Sushil Rinku, was won under the AAP banner in the 2023 bypoll. However, Rinku later defected to the BJP, prompting the BJP to field him from the Jalandhar (reserve) constituency.
Expressing his admiration for the Mann government's initiatives, Tinu cited achievements such as free electricity, healthcare services through 'Mohalla Clinics', and the establishment of quality educational institutions in Punjab since AAP assumed power.
Tinu expressed gratitude to Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, and AAP MP Sandeep Pathak for his inclusion in the party.
Asserting his commitment to AAP's principles, Tinu stated that he joined the party without any preconditions and is willing to undertake any role assigned to him by the party.
Tinu criticised the leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal under Sukhbir Singh Badal, alleging an atmosphere of "distrust" and insecurity among party members. He emphasized his 16-year stint with the SAD, stating his dedication to the party during his tenure.
In a veiled critique of the BJP, Tinu emphasized the importance of standing by the Constitution amid alleged efforts to undermine it. He condemned the BJP-led central government's purported misuse of central agencies to target political opponents.
As the political landscape unfolds, the Congress is yet to announce its candidate from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, although former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi is reportedly a leading contender for the reserved constituency.
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