CM Mann’s cousin joins BJP

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann's cousin Gyan Singh Mann on Monday joined the BJP in the presence of Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar.Along with Gyan Singh Mann, Barnala-based businessman and NRI Baljinder Singh Barnala and Manjinder Singh Sajan Khera, former PA to Jalalabad MLA Goldy Kamboj and AAP's Arniwala Johl in-charge, also joined the BJP at the party's Punjab office here.Addressing the media persons after joining the BJP, Gyan Singh Mann said he, along with his "brother" (Bhagwant Mann), started in politics in 2012 with the People's Party of Punjab. I was impressed with Arvind Kejriwal's views and later aligned with the AAP, he said.Gyan Singh, however, said after the AAP came to power in Punjab in 2022, it turned into "Khaas Aadmi Party". He alleged that the party gave "tickets to money bags in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by ignoring the volunteers and sent, barring a couple of party leaders from Delhi, those persons to Rajya Sabha who were not even the volunteers of the party".He also slammed the AAP-led govt over drugs, corruption, unemployment and gangsterism. Gyan Singh alleged that people from Delhi came to Punjab after losing elections in the national capital and were calling the shots in Punjab. "I hope the BJP can save Punjab," he said while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah.Addressing a joint press conference with Saini, Jakhar welcomed the leaders into the BJP. He said, "They originally joined the AAP with hopes for change, but after seeing those dreams shattered, they had now decided to become part of the BJP family."Responding to a question regarding local body polls, Jakhar said, "The party is fully prepared for the upcoming local body elections, and the people of Punjab are also ready to end AAP's corrupt rule.""The govt machinery must maintain neutrality during elections, failing which biased officers, along with political leaders, will also be held accountable in due course," he warned.MSID:: 131016418 413 |