Punjab: Big blow to Shiromani Akali Dal, Thandal joins BJP

Punjab: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) dealt another major blow when its former minister and four-time MLA Sohan S Thandal joined the BJP on Thursday in the presence of former Gujarat chief minister and Punjab party in-charge Vijay Rupani. Thandal may contest from the Chabbewal (reserved) assembly by-election seat. Thandal was a potential candidate of the SAD, but since it was not clear whether the SAD would contest the by-elections on four seats, he joined the BJP to contest this time too. The BJP was also unable to find a local candidate from this common rural seat who had close relations with the voters. In Thandal, the BJP managed to bring a new Panthic face. Thandal did not reveal any plans to join the saffron party, as he also attended the SAD core committee meeting a day earlier. Earlier, the BJP was considering making former minister of state Vijay Sampla or Dr. Dilbagh Rai its candidate.