Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) suffered a major setback on Wednesday as Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon, a veteran Akali leader and close aide of Sukhbir Badal, joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Dimpy Dhillon’s move is expected to give a significant boost to AAP in the upcoming Gidderbaha assembly by-election.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann formally inducted Dimpy Dhillon into the party during a public meeting in Gidderbaha, where he also welcomed him officially. Alongside Dimpy Dhillon, hundreds of Akali leaders and workers who support him also joined AAP. Dimpy Dhillon had contested the assembly elections from Gidderbaha on an Akali Dal ticket in both 2017 and 2022. In 2022, he narrowly lost to Congress candidate Raja Warring by just 1,350 votes.
Mann stated that Dimpy Dhillon did not leave the Akali Dal; rather, the party left him. When good ideas and valuable individuals are not given importance within the party, people are forced to leave. He emphasized that all individuals working for Punjab are welcomed into the AAP.
Mann also attacked Manpreet Badal, saying that despite joining his party with the intention of bringing change to Punjab, Manpreet Badal abruptly disbanded his party and joined Congress. Mann expressed his disappointment, noting that Manpreet Badal acted out of self-interest.
He recounted that he had contested the 2012 elections from Lehragaga on behalf of Manpreet Badal’s party and, despite losing, remained committed to the people. Eventually, the people elected him and brought him to his current position.Dimpy Dhillon thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for welcoming him into the party and explained that Manpreet Badal’s activities had recently caused confusion among local Akali Dal cadres.
Dhillon had sought clarification from Sukhbir Badal, but received no clear response, which increased his doubts. After meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Dhillon decided to join the Aam Aadmi Party. He expressed his commitment by stating that he is dedicating his 38 years of experience to Mann and AAP and pledged to fulfill any responsibility assigned to him honestly, without giving anyone cause for complaint.