Aam Aadmi Party’s sole member in Lok Sabha Sushil Kumar Rinku, representing Jalandhar in Punjab, made a decisive move by joining the BJP on Wednesday. AAP MLA Sheetal Angural, accompanied him, dealing a blow to the beleaguered party amid the ongoing crisis triggered by the arrest of national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Rinku and Angural officially embraced the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and National General Secretary Vinod Tawde. Speaking on his decision, Rinku cited the BJP’s commitment to Punjab’s development, particularly in Jalandhar, contrasting it with what he perceived as the AAP-led state government’s lack of support for his developmental endeavors.
Expressing admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rinku praised the central government’s initiatives for fostering development. His transition to the BJP marks a notable shift, having initially switched allegiance from the Congress to AAP last year to contest the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll.
Despite his past criticisms of the BJP, Rinku’s move underscores the BJP’s growing influence in Punjab as it strategically incorporates influential leaders from various parties. This trend was reinforced by the recent defection of three-term Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, who also joined the BJP, emphasizing public sentiment in favor of Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.
Rinku’s political trajectory, marked by successive party affiliations, reflects the dynamic landscape of Punjab politics. From contesting on a Congress ticket in 2022 to securing victory as an AAP candidate in the 2023 Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll, Rinku’s journey culminates in his candidacy under the BJP banner for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
Despite speculation about his intentions to campaign under the AAP ticket, Rinku’s decision to align with the BJP underscores a pivotal shift, with reported disengagement from AAP leadership following his meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Intriguingly, Rinku’s alliance with Angural, a former rival within AAP ranks, adds a compelling dimension to their joint entry into the BJP fold.
Angural’s return to the BJP, characterized as his ‘ghar wapsi’ (homecoming), further amplifies the party’s consolidation of diverse political affiliations in Punjab. Notably, his past allegations in the ‘Operation Lotus’ controversy, alongside Rinku’s vocal criticisms of the BJP, underscore the complex dynamics at play in Punjab’s evolving political landscape.