BATHINDA: Former minister in previous Shiromani Akali Dal government has been shown the door from the party. Chiranji Lal Garg has been thrown out of the party on the accusations of indulging in anti-party activists. Garg on his part has announced to contest the next assembly elections and has hinted to contest on the ticket of Manpreet Badal-led Peoples’ Party of Punjab. Ever since 2007 when SAD ticket was allotted to Sarup Chand instead of Chiranji Lal, he was feeling suffocation in SAD and had developed closeness to Manpreet Badal. Chiranji was minister in Badal government from 1997 to 2002 and was projected as Hindu face of the SAD.
SAD secretary Daljit Singh Cheema talking to Times of India over phone said “Chiranji Lal has been thrown out of party and has been expelled from the primary membership of party for indulging in anti-party activities”.
Chiranji Lal said, “He has not received any notice as of now but he was hoping it any time as he was being treated like an expelled leader for fairly long time and now the party has made it official but without giving him any notice.” Garg talking to Times of India said “he will definitely contest the 2012 elections from Bathinda and hinted he could contest on the PPP ticket”.
Garg has left behind clear hints of his getting closer to PPP when on the occasion of Diwali he had distributed cards in Basanti(yellow) colours with these having pictures of Bhagat Singh and his comrades a la PPP.
It is also hoped that if Garg opts out of electoral battle his Bathinda bar association president and councilor son Rajan Garg could contest.
News Source: Times of India
