SAD (Longowal) merges with Congress

CHANDIGARH : The Shiromani Akali Dal Longowal today merged with the Congress. The merger was announced jointly at a press conference by the leaders of the two parties in presence of hundreds of party workers who had converged from different parts of Punjab, here today.
The SAD-L workers led by the president Ms Surjit Kaur Barnala, secretary general Baldev Singh Mann, Gagganjit Singh Barnala and Simranjit Singh Barnala were present on the occasion.
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh, AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmad and Campaign Committee Chairperson Ms Ambika Soni, who were also present on the occasion, welcomed the merger, saying it will further strengthen the party in Punjab which is already at a firm footing in the state.
Talking to the reporters Ms Barnala and Mr Baldev Mann said that the Congress under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh was the only hope for Punjab. They said, Capt Amarinder had proven credentials of not only providing a brilliant administration, but also putting his personal and political career at stake when it comes to watching and safeguarding the interests of Punjab. They said, there was no other or better leader than Capt Amarinder who can lead Punjab from darkness to light and a bright future.
Welcoming the SAD-L into Congress, the PCC president said, he had a long association with the Barnala family as he had served as a minister in Mr Surjit Singh Barnala’s government. He said, today everybody was concerned about securing and safeguarding the future of the state and it was natural for the right thinking people to come together and join hands. The former Chief Minister said, merging of the SAD-L into the Congress and earlier that of the People’s Party of Punjab was reflective of a positive trend towards Congress. He said, people of Punjab were fed up with the nine years of misgovernance by the Badals and they wanted the Congress to form government in the state.