Former Congress MLA Dalvir Singh Goldy, who left the party after being denied a ticket from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, has joined the AAP. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann welcomed Goldy into the party, referring to him as his “younger brother” and praising his hard work.
“We welcome him along with his supporters,” Mann said. “Goldy worked hard and became an MLA, but he was ignored by the Congress.” Mann, accompanied by AAP candidate Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from the Sangrur seat, expressed confidence that Goldy’s joining would strengthen the party.
“I welcome him (Goldy) as my younger brother in the family,” Mann added, noting that Goldy’s addition would further boost the party. Goldy, who unsuccessfully contested the 2022 assembly polls from Dhuri against Mann, stated that he would fulfill any task assigned to him.
In his resignation letter to Congress Punjab chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Goldy expressed his disappointment with the state leadership and announced his resignation from the party’s primary membership. He mentioned feeling “upset” that despite his hard work, the party gave the ticket to someone else.
Responding to allegations by Congress leader Sukhpal Khaira that Goldy was threatened with action from the Vigilance Bureau to join the AAP, Mann dismissed the claims, stating, “Who pressurised him (Khaira) to switch parties many times. He has no right to make such allegations. It is the BJP which could use central agencies like ED against political opponents.”
Goldy had voiced his displeasure on April 16 over being denied the party ticket from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, urging the party high command not to “betray anyone.” He mentioned that the party had assured him during the 2022 Sangrur bypoll that he would be fielded in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
