The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday announced the second list of its candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha election in Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, even as former Congress Punjab president Mohinder Singh Kaypee joined the Akali Dal.
After joining the party, Mr. Kaypee was declared the SAD candidate from Jalandhar (reserved) parliamentary constituency. Mr. Kaypee was miffed over being denied a ticket by the Congress for the polls, and his departure from the party is being seen as a blow to the Congress as he is considered an established Dalit leader.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who announced the names of candidates in Jalandhar, said Mr. Kaypee, a three-time MLA, “is known as an upright man who has made an immense contribution to civil society as well as the Dalit community).”. “The SAD will be strengthened in the entire Doaba region,” he added.