Punjab Ekta party announces merger with Cong; poll boost for party ahead of 2022 elections

New Delhi: The Punjab Ekta Party on Thursday announced its merger with Congress ahead of 2022 Assembly polls in the state. The move after 3 MLAs – Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Jagdev Singh, and Pirmal Singh – met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the capital.

The Punjab Ekta Party MLAs were accompanied by AICC general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat.

“Many thanks
@RahulGandhi ji for warmth and magnanimity. I also express my heartfelt gratitude to @capt_amarinder ji, @harishrawatcmuk ji @rssurjewala ji and @sunilkjakhar ji for their blessings and support-khaira (sic),” Khaira tweeted.

Three Punjab Ekta Party MLAs, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Jagdev Singh, and Pirmal Singh met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today and announced the party’s merger with the Congress Party. pic.twitter.com/oYjZYviiFS

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2021

‘Joining AAP was a blunder’

It comes as a setback not just for Akalis, who have tied up with BSP for assembly elections, but also for the AAP as they were the alliance partners of latter in previous elections.

Khaira also said that it was a political blunder to join the AAP.

“Congress is the only viable platform to fight the fanatic and fascist BJP at the national level and the only option to prevent the corrupt and anti-Punjab Badal family from hijacking the state,” he added.

The Legislative Assembly elections in Punjab will be held in February or March 2022.

Earlier this week, the SAD and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Saturday stitched an alliance to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab. The two parties have joined ranks, 27 years after the 1996 Lok Sabha elections.