Bathinda: Gurdeep Singh Batth, who had contested the Nov 2024 bypoll from Barnala assembly constituency, on Tuesday joined Akali Dal ‘Waris Punjab De’ along with writer Harpreet Singh Baba Beli. Batth had contested the Barnala Assembly bypoll as an Independent candidate, and had been associated with the Aam Aadmi Party in the past as Barnala district president.Jailed MP Amritpal Singh’ father Tarsem Singh, MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali and Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa welcomed the two into the party. Batth said political parties whose leadership was based in Delhi could not adequately safeguard Punjab’s interests. “Punjab has suffered because of a political approach that compromises on the state’s rights and interests. There is a need for a strong political force and leadership that can rise above personal interests and fight for Punjab’s rights,” he said.
