Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
In a significant political development in Punjab, former Congress MLA from Jalalabad in Fazilka district, Raminder Singh Awla, has joined the Shiromani Akali Dal. He formally joined the party in Chandigarh in the presence of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. The development has drawn attention to the changing political dynamics in the Ferozepur region, where Congress and the Akali Dal have been competing for political influence.
Welcoming Awla into the party, Sukhbir Badal shared a post on social media platform X. He described Awla as a senior Congress leader and former MLA from Jalalabad. Badal also referred to his political association with the constituency, stating that the people of Jalalabad had given him the opportunity to serve them three times. He added that large-scale development work had been carried out in the constituency during Akali governments.
Senior Akali Dal leader and party vice-president Parmbans Singh Bunty Romana was also present on the occasion. Awla's entry into the party has triggered discussion about his future political role and the Akali Dal's activities in the region.
Earlier Remarks on Multiple Tickets to One Family Also in Focus
Awla's departure from Congress comes against the backdrop of an earlier debate within the party over the allocation of election tickets to multiple members of the same family. On August 4, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who was then the Punjab Congress president, addressed the issue during a public meeting in Ferozepur.
Warring had said that several senior leaders wanted to contest elections themselves while also seeking tickets for their sons. Referring to his tenure as state Congress president, he stated that two tickets would not be given to members of the same family. He also questioned whether the party was being run like a family estate.
At the time, his remarks were linked to Awla amid discussions over ticket distribution. However, there is no independent confirmation that the earlier controversy was the reason behind Awla's decision to leave Congress.
Ticket Dispute in Ferozepur Had Earlier Sparked Differences
Differences over candidate selection in the Ferozepur parliamentary constituency have previously attracted attention, particularly in connection with Raminder Singh Awla and Congress MP Sher Singh Ghubaya.
Before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Ghubaya left the Shiromani Akali Dal and joined Congress. His candidature from Ferozepur faced opposition from some local Congress leaders. Awla's reported dissatisfaction was also discussed during that period. Despite the objections, the Congress high command selected Ghubaya as its candidate for the parliamentary constituency.
With Awla now joining the Akali Dal, attention is likely to remain on his political role in Jalalabad and the wider Ferozepur region. The development comes amid discussions about possible political realignments in Punjab. However, no confirmed evidence has emerged linking Awla's decision to any prospective alliance between political parties.
