Apna Punjab Party leader joins Congress

Ahead of the Shahkot by-election, Apna Punjab Party district president today joined the Congress in the presence of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

The chief minister welcomed Jagtar Singh Chandi and his supporters into the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), saying it was a sign of the growing confidence of the people in the Congress government policies and programmes.

In a statement issued here, he said, leaders and workers from various opposition parties were keen to join the secular and democratic Indian National Congress, which had proved its commitment to the welfare of the people of Punjab.

Expressing gratitude towards Amarinder Singh, Chandi said he and his colleagues were feeling let down and suffocated in their party due to its autocratic style of functioning.

The Shahkot bypoll was necessitated following the death of Shriomani Akali Dal MLA Ajit Singh Kohar.

The by-poll would be held on May 28 and results would be declared on May 31.