Akalis reach out to Chhotepur

Gurdaspur : Former MLA Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who formed the Aapna Punjab Party (APP) after AAP removed him as its state convener, was yesterday approached by the SAD.
Sources claim his meeting with senior Akali leaders means his return to his parent party is imminent. “I will take a final decision on Friday,” said Chhotepur.
Sources say he will join the party in the presence of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is in the constituency for campaigning. The leaders who are working to ensure his smooth transition are former ministers Janmeja Singh Sekhon and Daljeet Singh Cheema, and Charanjit Singh Brar, OSD to the SAD president.
Sources say the SAD is interested in bringing Chhotepur to the party fold because of the void created by Langah in Dera Baba Nanak seat. A Congress legislator said: “The SAD will use Chhotepur as part of its two-pronged strategy. While ensuring that the void created by Langah is filled, the party will also use him to neutralise the growing influence of sitting Congress legislator Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.”