Amarinder Singh joins BJP, merges his party Punjab Lok Congress

Former chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Singh joined the party in presence of Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Kiren Rijiju, BJP Punjab chief Ashwani Sharma and other party leaders. The development comes months after Singh launched his party Punjab Lok Congress (PLC). The party has now been merged with the BJP.

Singh had floated the PLC last year after quitting the Congress following his unceremonious exit as chief minister, but his party failed to win any seat in the state assembly polls.

Singh himself lost from his home turf of Patiala Urban.

The PLC contested the elections in alliance with the BJP and the Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).

Former Punjab CM Shri @capt_amarinder joins BJP at party headquarters in New Delhi. #JoinBJP https://t.co/UURLEy51Q2

— BJP (@BJP4India) September 19, 2022

Interestingly, Singh's wife Preneet Kaur is still the Lok Sabha MP of the Congress from the Patiala seat.

The BJP is seeking to strengthen its base in Punjab through this merger.

Singh had recently returned from London following a spinal surgery, and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

After his meeting with Shah on September 12, Singh said he held a very productive discussion on various issues related to national security, rising cases of narco-terrorism in Punjab and the future roadmap for the state's overall holistic development.

The two-time former chief minister is the scion of the erstwhile Patiala royal family.

(With PTI inputs)