29 quit SAD,join Manpreet

Out of 10 SAD councillors at Kapurthala Nagar Council,eight,including the president,Advocate Paramjit Singh,too joined PPP. Several other office bearers and elected representatives of various organisations too deserted SAD to join hands with Manpreet at former Jalandhar Cantt MLA Jagbir Brar’s residence.

Kapurthala block samiti chairperson,SAD’s Kamaljit Kaur and three other members also joined the new party along with zila parishad member Kulwinder Singh Sidhu.

The move,political observers said,was initiated by Raghbir Singh,as he was feeling sidelined in the current set-up of things in the ruling coalition.

Raghbir,sources said,was the main contender for SAD ticket from Kapurthala assembly constituency. He had contested elections from here several times in the past and was in charge of the transport ministry in the previous SAD-BJP regime – since 1997 to 2002.

However, once the Adampur assembly constituency was declared reserved,the present MLA,Sarabjit Singh Makkar,was given the go-ahead by SAD high command to contest the forthcoming election from Kapurthala creating a rift in the party.

Recently,during a protest against price rise,Raghbir and Makkar’s supporters had a tiff and abused each other. It led to creation of two factions – one led by former MLA Bibi Jagir Kaur and Makkar,and other led by Raghbir and finance minister Bibi Upinderjit Kaur.

After joining PPP,Raghbir said his leaving the party had nothing to do with him being denied the contest from Kapurthala.

“Ever since Sukhbir Badal has become the president of SAD,the party has touched its lowest point.

“He (Sukhbir) has brought in the ‘five-star hotel culture’ in the party. A worker cannot (afford to) meet the party president as he doesn’t come out of the luxurious hotels,” said Raghbir.

He refused to to comment on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,but added that the CM has become helpless ever since his son became the party president.

“Party workers feel suffocated under Sukhbir’s leadership,” said Raghbir.

Manpreet is gaining from the dissension in SAD and accepting the leaders in his party fold. Earlier,former Jalandhar Cantt MLA Jagbir Brar had pledged support to him.