Disowned by SAD, its Jalandhar West bypoll candidate joins AAP, makes U-turn hours later

On Tuesday, Kaur, a two-time municipal councillor, along with some of her family members joined the AAP in Jalandhar and was welcomed into the party by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

“I’m joining the AAP to support a party which is working for the common people and their development. I will now support AAP candidate Mohinderpal Bhagat,” said Kaur, adding that she took the decision as people come to her seeking help, but Badal denied her candidature and any kind of help.

Kaur’s late husband Pritam Singh, also a two-time councillor, used to be considered close to Parkash Singh Badal, the late SAD patriarch and former five-time chief minister.

The AAP shared photographs where Kaur, after being inducted into the party, posed with CM Mann. She also addressed a press conference flanked by Cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, and Pawan Kumar Tinu, who unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha polls from Jalandhar.

Also present was Bhagat, the AAP’s Jalandhar West bypoll candidate. All the AAP leaders termed Kaur’s joining the party as a major boost to Bhagat’s campaign, especially considering the works done by her husband in Jalandhar.

Hour later, however, Kaur was at another press conference — this one held by former Shiromani Gudrwara Parbandhak Committee chief Bibi Jagir Kaur and Akali Dal MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala. Bibi Jagir Kaur and Wadala were part of the panel that had selected Kaur as Jalandhar West candidate. The duo later revolted against Badal, demanding that he should step down as the party chief.

Addressing media, Kaur claimed that some individuals visited her residence and escorted her to Jalandhar residence of CM Mann under the pretext of a meeting. Kaur claimed at CM’s residence she was “unexpectedly inducted” into the AAP.
Asked about the identity of those who escorted her, Kaur feigned ignorance. Her son too criticized the AAP move and said they have strong allegiance to SAD.

Bibi Jagir Kaur claimed that Kaur had been “misled”. “We told her not to worry. We told her people are with her.” Her family has always been staunch Akalis who have never thought outside the Akali Dal, Jagir Kaur said.

Surjit Kaur’s son, while replying to questions about what prompted them to join the AAP and then return by evening, said, “Whatever the reasons have been, we realised we did wrong and we decided to come back.”

Jagir Kaur said Surjit Kaur’s family was disturbed after SAD decided to withdraw support to her and extend it to the BSP candidate for the July 10 bypolls. The SGPC ex-chief said Kaur will fight the elections strongly and from Wednesday all meetings, as scheduled earlier, will be held.

Wadala accused the AAP and Mann of “stooping low” by inducting the SAD candidate without her consent.

Kaur too reaffirmed her Akali identity and declared that she will contest exclusively on the SAD ticket.

Earlier, while inducting her in AAP, Mann said Surjit Kaur’s family fought for Punjab and Punjabiyat and even went to jail to protect the rights of Punjab. He said Kaur had been mistreated and humiliated by the SAD. “As Punjab CM and as the party’s state unit president, I welcome her,” said Mann.

Khuddian had announced that “Kaur and her family will get all the respect in the AAP and she will also get opportunities to work freely for the development of her area”.

The bypoll to Jalandhar West was necessitated by the defection of Sheetal Angural, who was elected on AAP ticket in 2022, to the BJP in March, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The last date of withdrawal of the nomination for the bypoll was July 26. Kaur had already been allotted the SAD symbol and she was among the 15 candidates who were left in the fray for the bypoll.