Punjab LS Polls: SAD's Pawan Tinu Joins AAP, Rumoured To Be Pick For Jalandhar Against Turncoat Sushil Rinku

Punjab Lok Sabha Election 2024: Ex-Akali Dal MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu joined AAP and is rumoured to contest from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat.

Punjab Lok Sabha Election 2024: In a significant blow to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, former party MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu officially joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday. Tinu, who is rumoured to be the AAP candidate from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency, was warmly welcomed into the AAP fold by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Accompanying Tinu in joining the AAP was another prominent Akali leader, Gurcharan Singh. Tinu, known as a Dalit leader, had previously served as an MLA from the Adampur assembly segment in Jalandhar district during the terms of 2012 and 2017. However, he faced defeat in the 2022 assembly elections against Congress nominee Sukhwinder Kotli. Additionally, Tinu had an unsuccessful bid in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. News agency PTI cited AAP sources as saying that he is now likely to be the party's candidate for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat.

The Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency, presently held by Sushil Rinku, who won it on an AAP ticket in a 2023 bypoll, has witnessed political upheaval. Rinku was initially slated as the AAP candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls but later defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Consequently, the BJP has nominated Rinku from the Jalandhar (reserve) constituency.

Speaking about his decision, Tinu lauded the governance initiatives undertaken by the Mann-led Punjab government, citing measures such as free electricity, healthcare services at 'Mohalla Clinics,' and the establishment of quality educational institutions in the state.

According to PTI, Tinu stated, "Ever since the AAP came to power, it is working towards the welfare of people... Mohalla Clinics have been set up, over 80 per cent of the people are getting free electricity, and jobs are being given on merit." He extended gratitude to Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, and AAP MP Sandeep Pathak for his inclusion in the party.

People In SAD Feeling Insecure About Party’s Fate: Pawan Kumar Tinu

Responding to queries, Tinu affirmed his commitment to the AAP without any preconditions and expressed readiness to undertake any responsibility entrusted to him by the party. Alleging a sense of distrust within the SAD led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, Tinu criticised the party's internal dynamics, claiming, "There is confusion among the leaders and the workers. People (in SAD) are feeling insecure about the fate of the party. The morale of the party workers is down."

In a thinly veiled critique aimed at the BJP, Tinu raised concerns regarding purported attempts to undermine the Constitution. He urged for a clear stance on the commitment towards upholding the Constitution amidst perceived threats. "We all know that conspiracies are being hatched to abolish the Constitution. We will have to make our position clear on whether we stand by the Constitution or not," PTI quoted him as saying.

Furthermore, Tinu rebuked the BJP-led central government for what he described as the misuse of central agencies to target political adversaries.

As the political landscape unfolds, the Congress is yet to declare its candidate from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency, although former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi is reportedly a leading contender for the reserved constituency, PTI reported.

The looming Lok Sabha polls are scheduled for June 1 in Punjab, with anticipation building over the political manoeuvring and candidate announcements in the state's 13 constituencies.