SAD (Longowal) merges with Congress

Monday, 18/04/2016

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/sad-longowal-merges-with-congress/223913.html

New Delhi : The Congress today moved a step closer towards consolidation of anti-incumbency space in Punjab with the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal’s breakaway faction SAD (Longowal) merging with it unconditionally.

The merger, finalised on April 14 after SAD (Longowal) chief Surjit Kaur Barnala met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi, was formally announced today in the presence of AICC general secretary (Punjab) Shakeel Ahmad, Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and Congress Campaign Committee chief for the state Ambika Soni.

Also present were SAD (Longowal) general secretary Gaganjit Barnala, his son Simar Partap and around 100 supporters of former Governor and Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala, whose political legacy his wife has inherited. “We took a conscientious decision of a merger with the Congress to see that Punjab lands in Amarinder’s safe hands,” Surjit Kaur said today.

Amarinder said, “Surjit Singh Barnala has contributed immensely to the state. We welcome this merger. This will give us greater strength in our fight against the Akalis.”

The party will now work to engage the Left for a possible understanding ahead of the 2017 polls. “We have not closed the channels of communication with the Left. I had earlier met CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who was very keen to work with us. But his state unit appears to have reservations,” Amarinder said days after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said her party would go it alone in Punjab.

Amarinder, who wanted an alliance with the BSP, today attacked Mayawati. “She has always assisted the Akalis. Her candidates never win; they always spoil the anti-Akali vote under a deal,” he alleged.

The Congress’ calculations behind the unity of anti-Akali forces in Punjab is clear – Sanjha Morcha had not won any seat in the 2012 Assembly elections but had pocketed 5.4 per cent of the votes (the Congress lost by just 0.8 per cent votes).

Asked how the Congress planned to counter Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, Amarinder said AAP was “no force” and would at best harm the anti-incumbency vote. “We will run an ‘expose AAP campaign’ to reveal the many faces of the Delhi CM, who was caught lying on the SYL issue. AAP’s Lok Sabha upsurge (in Punjab) is history. Kejriwal is using Delhi taxpayers’ money to market himself in the state. Where will he spend Punjab money — in Tamil Nadu?” asked Captain.