Former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced on Tuesday that he will soon launch a new political party. Singh, who quit the CM post last month following a power tussle in the Congress state unit, also said he is hopeful of a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP and the breakaway Akali groups for the 2022 Assembly polls.
“Will soon announce the launch of my own political party to serve the interests of Punjab and its people, including our farmers,” Singh was quoted as saying in a tweet by his media adviser Raveen Thukral.
Singh said Punjab needs political stability and protection from internal and external threats. “I will not rest till I can secure the future of my people and my state,” he said as per Thukral’s tweet.
The 79-year-old veteran politician said he is hopeful of a seat sharing arrangement with the BJP in the 2022 Assembly polls if the ongoing protest against the three controversial agri laws is resolved in farmers’ interest.
“Also looking at alliance with like-minded parties- Akali groups, particularly Dhindsa and Brahmpura,” Thukral further quoted him as saying.
According to sources, some names have been shortlisted for the new party, and Singh could zero in on ‘Punjab Vikas Party’, which has so far got a maximum endorsement from his supporters, and the former chief minister also likes it.
Amarinder had recently declared that he would not stay in the Congress and talked about feeling utterly humiliated at the manner in which he was ousted from the chief minister’s chair.
In an interview with THE WEEK, he had said that he was willing to do whatever it takes to stop Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu from becoming chief minister, which included putting up a strong candidate against him.
With just about four months left for the Assembly elections, and huge limitations staring him in the face, such as his age and the burden of unkept promises made in the previous polls, Singh realises that he needs support to put up a fight in the form of an organisational set-up, feet on the ground and resources. So, he could be looking to the BJP to help him in this regard.
