In a major setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections on Saturday, Amar Singh, the party’s candidate for the Nilokheri (reserve) seat, has joined the Congress party.
After switching parties on Wednesday, Singh said that only Congress could defeat the “unjust” BJP government, which he accused of failing farmers, women, Dalits, and minorities. Singh was inducted into Congress in Chandigarh by Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly.
Though AAP is part of the INDIA bloc, it is contesting the Haryana elections independently after talks with Congress for an alliance fell through last month.
This development follows the recent defection of AAP’s Faridabad candidate, Pravesh Mehta, who joined the ruling BJP on September 28. Mehta made his move in the presence of Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar and Haryana BJP leader Vipul Goel.
Welcoming Singh into Congress, Bajwa said that he joined unconditionally and pledged full support to Congress candidate Dharampal Gondar in Nilokheri.
Bajwa also spoke about Singh’s popularity within the Sikh community in the area.
Singh further added that had he continued contesting the election, it would have directly benefited the BJP.
To prevent vote splitting, he decided to join the Congress, he said.