The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today expelled former mp Balwant Singh Ramoowalia from the primary membership of the party. This was disclosed in a party statement here which said Ramoowalia had displayed the height of political opportunism and power hunger by betraying the party which had given him everything to hitch his boat with the Samajwadi Party (SP).While stating that Ramoowalia’s action was reminiscent of the days of “aaya ram gayaa ram” politics, senior party leaders including Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Prem Singh Chandumajra and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said what was most condemnable was that Ramoowalia had not betrayed the SAD due to any ideological reasons but because he had been rejected by the people of Mohali.
The leaders said Ramoowalia was always in the habit of sticking to power and back stabbing. They said it was the SAD which had granted Ramoowalia political recognition by giving him the parliamentary ticket from Faridkot. They said despite this, when an opportunity arose, Ramoowalia back stabbed the SAD and joined hands with a motley group of parties to become a Union minister.The senior SAD leaders said following this Ramoowalia when out in the cold again formed his own party – Lok Bhalai Party (LBP) which was more in the news for trying to exploit NRIs and innocent Punjabis. They said LBP failed to make any impression in two successive elections following which Ramoowalia made a comeback to the SAD.
Speaking out about the latest betrayal, Mr Sukhdev Dhindsa and Mr Balwinder Bhundur said the trigger was the inability of the Ramoowalia family to take on the party rank and file as well as the people of Mohali. They said after the people of Mohali rejected him completely there was a clamour from the party rank and file to divest him from the responsibility of leading the party from the constituency in the next elections. They said the former mp got frustrated due to these developments.The leaders said this act did not only amount to betraying the SAD but also the people of Mohali and Punjab. "We fail to understand what lollipop the SP has given to such a failed leader", they added.