Another AAP defeat in Haryana: Nilokheri candidate Amar Singh joins Congress

Hitting out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, Amar Singh, the party’s candidate from the Nilokheri (reserve) seat, joined the Congress on Wednesday. Singh announced his decision, stating that only the Congress can defeat the BJP government, which accuses it of “injustice to farmers, women, Dalits and minorities”.

Singh was welcomed to the Congress by Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly. “He has joined the party unconditionally and extended full support to Congress candidate Dharampal Gondar,” Bajwa said in a statement, adding that Singh is popular among the Sikh community in Nilokheri.

Singh stressed that the main objective was to topple the BJP government in Haryana, describing the current political scenario as a direct fight between the Congress and the BJP. “The BJP government has acted unfairly against farmers, women, Dalits and minorities and only the Congress can achieve this. Continuing with my candidature would benefit the BJP in terms of vote sharing,” Singh explained.

This is the second blow to AAP in Haryana in recent days after Faridabad candidate Pravesh Mehta defected to the BJP on September 28. Mehta joined the ruling party in the presence of Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar and Haryana BJP leader Vipul Goel.

AAP, a member of the INDIA bloc, is independently contesting the Haryana elections after alliance talks with the Congress failed last month. Arvind Kejriwal’s party is contesting all 90 seats. Haryana will go to polls on October 5.