Amarinder Singh Says No Backend Talks With Congress, Will Speak To BJP For Seat-Sharing In Punjab Polls

Amarinder Singh will soon launch his own party and will also hold talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), breakaway factions of the Akali Dal and others for seat-sharing.

Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh. (File Photo)

Chandigarh: Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday rejected the reports of any kind of backend talks with Congress for the formation of his new party ahead of Assembly polls, saying that time for rapprochement is over. 

Recently there were reports of some senior Congress leaders being engaged in backend talks to persuade the former CM to stay in the party.

"Reports of backend talks with Congress are incorrect. The time for rapprochement is over. I'm grateful to Sonia Gandhi ji for her support but will not stay in Congress now," Amarinder Singh's media advisor Raveen Thukral quotes him as saying.

Thurkal also said that the former Congress veteran will soon launch his own party and will also hold talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), breakaway factions of the Akali Dal and others for seat-sharing in Punjab polls.

However, Singh maintained that he will approach the BJP for an alliance once the farmers' issue is resolved. 

"I will soon launch my own party and will hold talks for seat-sharing with BJP, breakaway Akali factions & others for Punjab elections once farmers' issue is resolved. I want to build a strong collective force in the interest of Punjab and its farmers," Singh said.

Meanwhile, the BJP has hailed Singh's efforts to resolve farmers' issues and said any intervention is welcome to resolve the deadlock with protesting farmers.

Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at the borders of the national capital since last year against three central farm laws and demanding these be repealed.

Singh had last week said he would soon launch his own party, and that he was hopeful of a seat arrangement with the BJP provided the ongoing farmers' stir against farm laws was resolved in their interest.

The two-time chief minister had added that he would not rest till he secures the future of my people and my state.