Sparing time out of his busy schedule for the Delhi assembly elections, Punjab's deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is expected to visit Patiala on the invitation extended by Congress leader and former senior deputy mayor Kabir Dass.
Badal will attend the Bhagat Ravidas Jyanti programme, to be organised by the Ravidas Mandir Committee on February 3.
While Congress MLA Preneet Kaur is reported to have been invited to flag off the 'Nagar Kirtan' on February 2, Sukhbir along with other senior Shiromani Akali Dal leaders including chief parliamentary secretary NK Sharma, cabinet minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, Bhagwan Das Juneja have been invited to attend the function on the consecutive day.
The incitation has spurred speculations of Dass joining SAD on February 3 as Sukhbir is also expected to visit Dass' residence following the function.
However, Dass, who is active member of the committee, claimed that it is going to be a religious function only without completely denying Sukhbir's visit to his residence.
"I have yet to get final programme about for how much time 'Badal 'saab' is going to stay", he said dodging the question of his possible move to SAD.
{{/usCountry}}"I have yet to get final programme about for how much time 'Badal 'saab' is going to stay", he said dodging the question of his possible move to SAD.
{{/usCountry}}After the Congress lost the 2012 Patiala municipal corporation elections, Dass, who is close relative to SAD MLA from Gill constituency Darshan Singh Shivalik, remained absent from local politics of the city.
Moreover, even during Lok Sabha elections and by-elections, he was not seen actively campaigning for Congress.
"Me and my father have worked for the Congress for more than 40 years; and it gave us identity and dignity, but we can well imagine where the Congress is going today?", Dass said.
Moreover, he added, it is good that Sukhbir Badal is coming to attend the function, as it will help to uplift people belonging to our community.
"I have only invited him on behalf of the Mandir committee," he said.
Sources revealed that Dass has been recently appointed as political in-charge of Jalandhar based Dera Sachkhand Ballan and SAD leaders are also keen to increase proximity with him for their political gains.
It should be mentioned that Dera Ballan has a stronghold in the Doaba region and it is now expanded its wings in Patiala and other districts of the Malwa region.
Meanwhile, SAD urban president Indermohan Bajaj confirmed Badal's and said that Dass is only tipped to join SAD on the basis of rumours in city's political arena.
Pertinently, Dass' colleague former mayor Vishnu Sharma, once a staunch Congress supporter joined SAD before the general elections in May last year.