The former Chief Minister addresses SGPC poll rallies in favour of Panthic Morcha candidates.
PATIALA – Surjit Singh Barnala, former Chief Minister of Punjab who retired as Tamil Nadu Governor last month, today said he would return to active politics in the state. His announcement assumes significance in view of the fact that SGPC elections were only two weeks away and the Punjab assembly polls were due early next year.
After paying obeisance at Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib here, Barnala said, “I will campaign in favour of candidates fielded by the Panthic Morcha for the SGPC elections.” Barnala said Shiromani Akali Dal-Longowal, being looked after by his wife and party president Surjit Kaur and son Gaganajit Singh, both former MLAs, would field candidates for the coming assembly polls. He said he would render his services to the party as its patron. He said he was trying to assess the political situation after his return to Punjab and will try to build up a third alternative by aligning with non-Congress, non-SAD (B) forces, including former Minister Manpreet Singh Badal-led People’s Party of Punjab.
“Several leaders are in touch with us…. Only a few days back, I came back from Chennai. From today, I will be on a tour and meeting our old sympathisers and friends. I have programmes lined up in Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Sangrur and Barnala,” he said.
