Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA from Jalandhar Cantt Jagbir Singh Brar joined the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab on Sunday in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Brar joined the AAP ahead of by-polls to be held in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency after the death of Congress leader and Member of Parliament Santokh Singh Chaudhary in January this year.
The official Twitter handle of Punjab AAP welcomed his decision to join the party along with his colleagues after quitting Akali Dal today.
In a separate tweet, AAP general secretary Harchand Singh Barsat described Brar’s move to join the party in Punjab as “a big boost for the party.”
Barsat further said former Akali Dal member Brar is an influential leader in Jalandhar and his joining the AAP has only resulted in strengthening the party in the upcoming by-poll.
The dates for the by-poll are yet to be announced, which is expected to be a litmus test for the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party in the state. This will be one of the most closely watched and decisive by-polls as AAP lost the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat after assuming office in Punjab.
The elections will also be very significant due to the ongoing controversy in pro-Khalisatn supporter Amritpal Singh. Brar was first elected from the Jalandhar Cantonment seat in 2007 on a SAD ticket. He later joined the People's Party of Punjab, floated by Manpreet Singh Badal.
After that, he switched over to the Congress but faced defeat in the 2012 assembly polls to Pargat Singh, who contested from the Jalandhar Cantonment seat on a SAD ticket.
Again, ahead of the 2022 state assembly polls, Brar had left the Congress party only to return to the Shiromani Akali Dal.
He was unsuccessful in his contest in the 2022 assembly polls from the Jalandhar Cantonment seat in the state.