“Joining BJP Was Not a Regret, But…”: Amarinder Singh
Former Punjab CM says he gained little from four years in BJP, backs possible BJP-SAD alliance
- Amarinder Singh says BJP did not consult him on Punjab affairs.
- He says he gained “nothing, really” from four years in the BJP.
- Former CM backs consideration of a BJP-SAD alliance in Punjab.
- He rules out a return to Congress but discusses Amritpal Singh and Rahul Gandhi.
GG News Bureau
Chandigarh, 26th Sept: Former Punjab Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Captain Amarinder Singh has expressed dissatisfaction with his four-year stint in the BJP, saying the party has not consulted him on Punjab-related political and policy matters despite his nearly six decades of experience in the state.
In an interview with The Tribune, Amarinder Singh said he did not regret joining the BJP but acknowledged that he had gained “nothing, really” from his four years in the party. He said a senior leader with extensive knowledge of Punjab would normally expect to be consulted on matters concerning the state.
“I’m not claiming to have all the answers, but I do know this state,” he said, referring to his long political experience in Punjab.
Amarinder Singh left the Congress in 2021 after serving two terms as Punjab chief minister. He subsequently formed the Punjab Lok Congress, which later merged with the BJP. He remains a senior BJP leader.
Says no plan to return to Congress
Asked about his political future, Amarinder Singh said he had no immediate alternative to remaining with the BJP. He ruled out joining the Shiromani Akali Dal and said he did not expect the Congress to take him back.
“I can’t go to the Akali Dal, and I don’t think the Congress would take me back either,” he said, adding that the Congress had problems of its own to address.
His comments come months before the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with political parties preparing for the contest. Recent reporting has also highlighted continuing debate over the BJP’s relationship with the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Backs BJP-SAD alliance
Amarinder Singh has argued that a BJP-SAD alliance could be an important option for the 2027 Punjab elections, given the parties’ long history as political allies.
The BJP and SAD had been alliance partners for decades before their relationship broke down amid disagreements over the farm laws in 2020-21. Current BJP leaders have indicated that any future alliance would have to be negotiated on new terms.
Remarks on Bhagwant Mann government
The former chief minister also criticised the functioning of the current Punjab government headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
He referred to issues including drug abuse, farmers and unemployment while expressing dissatisfaction with the state’s present situation. His assessment represents his political view of the state government and has been disputed by the AAP government and its supporters.
Amarinder Singh also questioned Mann’s political persona, saying he appeared more like an actor than a chief minister.
On Amritpal Singh
The former chief minister also spoke about jailed MP Amritpal Singh. He said Amritpal should be released so that he could contest elections, while adding that if a person had committed an offence, the law should take its course.
Amritpal Singh remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings, and decisions concerning his custody and eligibility to contest elections depend on the applicable legal and electoral processes.
Says Rahul Gandhi could become PM
Asked whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi could become prime minister, Amarinder Singh responded, “Why not?”
He referred to the crowd at one of Gandhi’s rallies and said political circumstances could change over time.
Amarinder Singh did not make a prediction about the outcome of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. His comments focused instead on the fluidity of the state’s political landscape and the presence of multiple parties and political groupings.
Six decades in Punjab politics
Amarinder Singh served as Punjab chief minister from 2002 to 2007 and again from 2017 to 2021. He had joined the Congress in 1971 and remained with the party, apart from brief breaks, until his departure in 2021.
After leaving the Congress, he formed the Punjab Lok Congress, which eventually merged with the BJP. His latest comments have brought renewed attention to his role within the BJP and to possible political alignments in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
