Former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh to launch new party

A MONTH after Captain Amarinder Singh quit the post of chief minister in the northern Indian state of Punjab, he has announced his plan to launch his own political party and even said that he may ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if the latter resolved the ongoing farmers’ protest. He also gave hints at joining hands with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), another major player in Punjab politics.

The veteran leader’s adviser wrote in a series of tweets saying, “The battle for Punjab’s future is on. Will soon announce the launch of my own political party to serve the interests of Punjab & its people, including our farmers who’ve been fighting for their survival for over a year.”

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He said in another tweet, “Hopeful of a seat arrangement with @BJP4India in 2022 Punjab Assembly polls if #FarmersProtest is resolved in farmers’ interest. Also looking at alliance with like-minded parties such as breakaway Akali groups, particularly Dhindsa & Brahmpura factions.”

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Singh, 79, has been in New Delhi for the past few days, fuelling speculation over his next political moves. He stepped down from the post of the chief minister in September, months before the next state elections and the Indian National Congress, which has been in power in Punjab since 2017, has been left in chaos. Singh’s meetings with Indian home minister and top BJP leader Amit Shah gave birth to the speculation that he could next join the saffron party.

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The BJP welcomed Singh’s plan and called him “the tallest leader of Punjab”.

Subhash Verma, the general secretary of the Punjab BJP, said, “As of now, he is the tallest leader in Punjab. There is no one else close to him. If he wishes to float a new party and extend support to the BJP, it will be good for the Punjab BJP. Let’s see how things turn out.”

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, president of Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt), however, said Singh was yet to approach them, The Indian Express reported.

It also said that the Congress in Punjab was trying to ensure that Preneet Kaur, the parliamentarian wife of Amarinder Singh, didn’t quit the party.

The former chief minister said his actions would be determined by the fact that “Punjab needs political stability and protection from internal and external threats”. He said, “I promise my people I will do what it takes to ensure its peace and security, which is today at stake.”

The Congress criticised Singh over his plans.

Pargat Singh, Punjab Cabinet minister and a loyalist of Singh’s bete noire and the party’s state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, said, “The cat is out of the bag. I have always been saying that he (Amarinder) was in cahoots with the BJP and SAD. His quid pro quo with the BJP is out in the open. Soon his (arrangement) with SAD will be out also.”

This is not the first time that Singh will float a political party. In 1984, he left the Congress to join the SAD and then formed Shiromani Akali dal (Panthic) which merged with the Congress in the late 1990s.