Amarinder Singh announces political party, open to tie-up with BJP

Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday announced he will form his own political party “to serve the interests of Punjab & its people, including our farmers“. 

Singh resigned as chief minister of Punjab last month after a bitter feud with Navjot Singh Sidhu and infighting in the state Congress. The party replaced him with Charanjit Singh Channi.

In a series of tweets, the former chief minister’s media advisor Raveen Thukral quoted him 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.”

He also said he will not rest until he secures the future of “my people and my state”.

“Punjab needs political stability and protection from internal and external threats. I promise my people I will do what it takes to ensure its peace and security, which is today at stake,” he was quoted as saying by his media adviser.

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“Hopeful of a seat arrangement with BJP in 2022 Punjab Assembly polls if Farmers Protest is resolved in farmers’ interest. Also looking at alliance with like-minded parties such as breakaway Akali groups, particularly Dhindsa & Brahmpura factions,” Singh said.

The 79-year-old, a veteran Congress leader who has been its central figure in Punjab politics for nearly four decades. is yet to quit the party. The Congress has not commented on the issue as of yet. 

He stepped down from the post of chief minister in September after a long-drawn feud with Navjor Singh Sidhu, who is currently the president of the party’s state unit. He admitted he had suffered “humiliation” on the part of the Congress in the feud, signalling later he still has political clout in the state and he will explore his future options. 

He had also indicated his age would not be a factor in his decision, saying “you can be old at 40 at young at 80. 

Singh, a known Gandhi loyalist, had also issued a scathing assessment of the way the leadership handled the situation, saying “I was ready to leave after the victory but never after a loss… If she (Sonia Gandhi) had just called me and asked me to step down, I would have. As a soldier, I know how to do my task.”