3 SAD leaders join Congress in support of Ambika Soni

In a setback to the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance in the Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, the leaders of the SAD, including Kewal Krishan Chauhan, Arjun Singh Kansal, Shiv Ram Singh Chauhan (Balachaur) along with their supporters joined the Congress in support of party candidate Ambika Soni in the said constituency on Monday.

In a setback to the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance in the Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, the leaders of the SAD, including Kewal Krishan Chauhan, Arjun Singh Kansal, Shiv Ram Singh Chauhan (Balachaur) along with their supporters joined the Congress in support of party candidate Ambika Soni in the said constituency on Monday.

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The joining took place at Soni's residence in Sector 9, Chandigarh and the new members were presented siropas.

All the three leaders contested elections on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) tickets, but later joined the SAD. Kewal Krishan Chouhan, in the 2009 Lok Sabha election secured 1,20,000 votes from Anandpur Sahib, Shiv Ram Singh Chouhan, in the 2012 Vidhan Sabha election, secured 22,000 votes from Balachaur, while Arjun Singh Kansal in the 2012 Vidhan Sabha election, secured 23,000 votes from Kharar.

All there leaders welcomed the candidature of Soni as a major boost to the future development of this constituency owing to her close proximity with Sonia Gandhi.

Kewal Singh Dhillon, vice-president, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Parminder Pinki, general secretary, PPCC, said, "The joining of these leaders will be a huge boost to the Congress not just in Anandpur Sahib constituency but in entire Punjab as especially the Gujjar community has approximately 1,20,000 votes in this constituency alone."