Fearing denial of ticket, Cong MLAs Fateh Jung Bajwa, Balwinder Singh Laddi join BJP: Punjab

Ahead of the Punjab Assembly poll early next year, Congress MLAs Fateh Jung Bajwa (Qadian) and Balwinder Singh Laddi (Sri Hargobindpur) joined the BJP today. Sources said since they were unlikely to be given ticket by the Congress, they switched over to the saffron party. The Congress is learnt to have identified at least 10-12 MLAs who performed poorly in surveys conducted by it to work out the merit of prospective candidates.

Guruharsahai MLA Rana Gumit Sodhi, who recently joined the BJP, was also among those who were likely to be denied the ticket.

A senior party leader said, “We won’t be surprised if a few more MLAs, who are not in a winning position, join the BJP or other party in the coming days. The BJP is poaching Congress MLAs to create a false impression of its consolidating position.” The sources said since the Congress had already conveyed to Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa to contest from Qadian, his younger brother Fateh Jung quit the party. It is yet to be seen whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fields him against his brother from Qadian or gives him ticket from Batala.