In yet another vote of no confidence against Punjab Congress President Partap Bajwa, former minister and Congress Jagraon constituency incharge Isher Singh Meharban today deserted his party and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal in the presence of its President Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal and general secretary Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra. Mr. Meherban, who formally joined the SAD at a press conference presided over by Mr Sukhbir Badal, said he was leaving the Congress because Mr. Partap Bajwa was ignoring the senior leadership. He said party workers had no recourse of even an appeal against the PCC President because the high command was insensitive and inaccessible to them. On this occassion, almost all the office bearers of PPP from district Mohali including Gaganpreet Singh Bains, President PPP Mohali urban, Dharam singh Saini, President PPP Mohali rural, Malwinder Singh Malli, PPP Youth President Mohali and Dr. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, member central committee PPP also joined Shiromani Akali Dal.
Welcoming Mr. Meharban and PPP leaders into the party fold, Mr. Badal said the manner in which senior Congress leaders were leaving the sinking ship of the party was indicative of the fact that the party had thrown in the towel and was incapable of even contesting the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. "The Congress is finding it difficult to find candidates even as it's senior leadership is contacting us with the intent of joining the SAD. The position is such that even sitting mps like Mr. Partap singh Bajwa and Mr. Manish Tiwari have felt the pulse of people of the voters and fearing their imminent loss are refusing to contest the polls". Mr Badal said the SAD- BJP alliance was all set to register record margin victories on all the 13 Lok sabha constituencies.
Meharban, who is a two time MLA from Koom Kalan, had unsuccessfully contested the last assembly election from Jagraon and lost with a narrow margin of 200 votes from SAD candidate Mr. Shiv Ram Kaler. He had also resigned from the post of state executive member of PPCC last January in a protest against party appointments done by PPCC President Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa . His exit is likely to result in a major blow to the Congress party on two parliamentary constituencies as Mr. Meharban has strong influence in both Ludhiana and Fatehgarh constituencies. Committing to work with full strength to ensure the record victory of SAD-BJP Candidates from Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib constituencies, Mr Meherban said that he decided to join the SAD as Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal were accessible to even grassroot level workers. He said he had always followed principle based politics and that he had always been impressed by the development agenda of the SAD.