In a bold political maneuver, two-time MLA and Punjab BJP Vice President Arvind Khanna defected to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday, joined by district-level BJP leaders, injecting fresh vigor into the party’s revival bid.
SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal celebrated the arrival, proclaiming it the launch of a whirlwind to expel national outfits from Punjab. He appointed Khanna as Sangrur halqa coordinator, commending his two-decade commitment via Umeed Foundation projects that touched countless lives.
Badal described Khanna as an exemplar of altruism, devoted to repaying society.
Khanna spoke of his SAD origins, framing the switch as returning home. He stirred memories of Akali-led progress that defined an era, one people desperately want back. Sukhbir’s hands-on aid during the prior year’s floods was the catalyst, he noted.
The welcoming fold embraced BJP district chief Dharminder Singh Dulat, former chair Harbhans Singh Garicha, Deepak Agarwal, Daljit Singh Sekhon, Manjula Sharma, Gurmeet Singh Kaka, Buta Singh, Narinder Kumar Sheli, Navdeep Singh Nippa, and Harmel Singh. Grassroots leaders from BJP and Congress in Dirba, Sunam, Dhuri, Barnala defected en masse.
Badal implored voters to embrace SAD, Punjab’s true regional sentinel. He committed to dismantling AAP’s thuggish ethos, indicting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for sowing anarchy and fueling drug crises that threaten the state’s future.
This high-stakes crossover highlights fractures in BJP’s Punjab unit and SAD’s savvy recruitment drive. With Khanna’s stature, SAD eyes dominance in Sangrur, challenging AAP’s grip and rekindling hopes for a regional resurgence.