The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) has suffered another major setback in the Majha region. Senior Akali leader from Tarn Taran, Harmeet Singh Sandhu, along with dozens of his supporters, left the Akali Dal and joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday.
Harmeet Sandhu has been elected MLA from the Tarn Taran constituency three consecutive times. In 2002, he was first elected as an independent candidate. After that, he won the elections twice on the Shiromani Akali Dal’s ticket in 2007 and 2012.
He also contested 2017 elections and 2022 assembly elections, he stood second. Sandhu possesses deep knowledge of Punjab politics, especially the politics of the Majha region, and holds considerable influence among the people of Tarn Taran.
He has been actively involved in Punjab’s politics for nearly two and a half decades. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party Punjab’s in-charge Manish Sisodia formally inducted Harmeet Sandhu into the party in Chandigarh and welcomed him.
Several senior leaders of the party were also present on this occasion. Welcoming Harmeet Sandhu into the party, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that it is a matter of great happiness for the Aam Aadmi Party.
“Since we were young, he has been winning elections. We will utilize his experience to strengthen the party.” Mann said that when Arvind Kejriwal founded the party, he had said that there are good people even in traditional parties who feel suffocated there.
“We will bring them into the Aam Aadmi Party.” He added that they are building a group of good people in politics. Addressing the media, Harmeet Sandhu said that he has been in politics for about 30 years and the people of Tarn Taran have always given him immense love and respect.
“But now the circumstances have changed a lot. In 2002, the people elected me as an independent candidate with a margin of around 7,000 votes.” He said that the AAP government’s clear policies and honest intentions inspired him to join the Aam Aadmi Party.
“Therefore, it is also my duty to support Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and work together with the government for the development of my area.” He further said that he is deeply impressed by the Mann government’s decision to bring a strict law against sacrilege in the Assembly.
“Bringing this law was very necessary for Punjab and for the Sikh community.”