Leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal, BJP meet KC Venugopal, express desire to join Congress

NEW DELHI: A number of senior leaders from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Punjab met the AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Friday expressing their desire to join the Congress.

"A number of senior SAD and BJP leaders from Punjab met the AICC General Secy KC Venugopal to express their desire to join INC. KC Venugopal welcomed them," Congress posted on X (Formerly Twitter).

Earlier in 2020, Akali Dal broke its ties with the BJP following the massive protests against three central farm laws, which were later withdrawn by the government.

Earlier today, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National president Jagat Prakash Nadda appointed Jatinder Pal Malhotra as the state president of the Chandigarh BJP.

"BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda has appointed Jatinder Pal Malhotra, as State President of Chandigarh, BJP. This appointment comes into immediate effect," the BJP's official release said.

This appointment comes into immediate effect, it added.

Earlier in July, BJP appointed former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar as its state unit chief.

The BJP and Congress are gearing up for assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram to be held later this year as well for next year's Lok Sabha elections.