The Congress Party today suffered a major setback in Ludhiana district as its former district youth president (urban) Mr. Dimple Rana along with his thousands of supporters joined Shiromani Akai Dal (SAD) in the presence of Party President S. Sukhbir Singh Badal. Mr. Jagdish Singh Jassowal, State Secretary Bahujan Samaj Party also joined SAD on the occasion.
Welcoming the Congress and BSP leaders into the SAD fold, Mr. Badal said the day to day exodus of Congress leaders from their parent party proved there was no future of the Congress in Punjab and that the Shiromani Akali Dal would register massive victories on all 13 Lok Sabha seats in ensuing Parliamentary elections.
The Party President said the Congress camp was completely demoralised as infighting was at its peak. He said in stark contrast the SAD was gaining strength each day due to the faith being reposed in the party by all sections of society.
Dimple Rana said he was quitting the party in disgust making it clear that he did not fit into the five star culture represented by Punjab Pradesh Congress leaders. He said it was an irony that Congress leaders from Punjab who could not win a village level election were given weightage by the Congress high command in Delhi.
Amongst other prominent amongst those present on the occasion Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, PWD Minister, Mr. Ranjit Singh Dhillon, MLA, Mr. Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Advisor to CM, Mr. H.S. Gohalwaria, Mayor, Mr. Amrik Singh Aliwal, Ex-MP, Mr. Hira Singh Gabria, former Minister, former Mayor Hakam Singh Gyaspura, Mr. Madan Lal Bagga and Baba Ajit Singh, both former chairmen, Mr. Ashok Makkar and Jaswant Singh Chhapa.