Congress, AAP woo political leaders in Punjab: Come one, come all

Congress and AAP are not impressed by each others’ “catches”. The former claims there is a vacuum of leadership in the AAP and more “opportunists” would join them. AAP claims it is the most sought after party in Punjab and it will continue to attract more leaders.

Written by Kanchan Vasdev

Chandigarh | Updated: February 11, 2016 03:29 PM IST

3 min read

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Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi had a meeting with state Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh a few days ago.

Playing for high stakes ahead of the 2017 assembly elections in Punjab, two major claimants, the grand old Congress and the new entrant, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), are busy poaching leading politicians in the state. The ruling combine, SAD-BJP has stayed away from the game so far.

While the election is still a year away, leaders of both political parties are wooing leaders of all shades. At times, both have been out to woo the same person. For instance, both Congress and AAP were working on comedian and actor, Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi who finally joined AAP on Wednesday, leaving the Congress high and dry.

Ghuggi had a meeting with state Congress President Capt Amarinder Singh a few days ago. The National organisational building head of AAP, Durgesh Pathak was also persuading Ghuggi to join his party and he finally succeeded.

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Both parties are now working on Gurpreet Singh Bhatti, general secretary of People’s Party, an outfit of Manpreet Singh Badal, former finance minister of Punjab and estranged nephew of Chief Minister Partap Singh Badal. Manpreet has since merged his party with the Congress.

Bhatti is meeting Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday to seek clarifications on the party’s policy on farming and the economic crisis. He has already met Amarinder. He was to have joined the Congress alongwith Manpreet but backed out at the last minute.

Both parties are also working on Ludhiana’s two Independent MLAs, the siblings Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjit Singh Bains. They have met Amarinder as well as AAP leaders.

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The game was started by AAP. Soon after the Punjab Congress president, Capt Amarinder Singh took over the reins of the party in December 2015, AAP poached six of its leaders. They include ex-MLA, Sukhpal Khaira, followed by ex-MLA Jagtar Singh Rajla from Samana, Kuldip Dhaliwal from Amritsar and Lakhbir Singh Rai from Fatehgarh Sahib and Aman Arora from Sunam.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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