The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today received a major boost in this constituency with 2017 AAP candidate Anil Dutt Phalli who had secured 35,000 votes joining the SAD along with his entire team in the presence of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal.Mr Phalli announced that he quit the AAP in protest against the autocratic style of functioning of its top leadership as well as the division which its supremo Arvind Kejriwal was causing in society in the name of religion. He also accused the AAP leadership of collecting money for party tickets. Mr Phalli promised to work wholeheartedly to ensure the SAD-BSP candidate Jasdeep Kaur Yadu won the Khanna seat.While welcoming Anil Dutt Phalli into the party fold, Sukhbir Badal assured him due respect andresponsibility. He said many more senior leaders from other parties were also in contact with the SAD and would join it shortly.
Speaking about AAP, Mr Badal said it was trying to sell falsehoods by claiming that it had made outstanding achievements in Delhi. “This is utterly false. The AAP’s record in Delhi is for all to see. It presided over the death of thousands of people due to Covid. It could not even provide adequate drinking water to the citizens of the capital city. “AAP is trying desperately to woo Punjabis with a multi- crore advertising campaign but they will reject it outrightly this time”.Mr Badal urged the voters to ensure party candidate Jasdeep Kaur Yaadu won the polls and promised to redress all issues of the constituency. He also slammed the Congress government and chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi for trying to befool Punjabis with false promises which he had no plan to fulfill.Speaking on the occasion, former minister Anil Joshi said he had joined the SAD since this was the only party which could ensure peace, communal harmony and inclusive all round development of the state. He assured that the SAD-BSP government would create an atmosphere where everyone would feel safe and secure as well as get equal chances for growth.Party candidate Jasdeep Kaur Yadu and Yadwinder Singh Yadu were also present on the occasion.