Cong leader & former 4-time MLA Parlad Singh Sawhney joins AAP

Senior Congress leader Parlad Singh Sawhney on Sunday joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). His move comes months ahead of Delhi assembly elections which are set to take place in 2020. Sawhney is a former four-term MLA from Chandni Chowk constituency from Delhi. See pictures from his induction into BJP below:

Parlad Singh Sawhney joins AAP

READ | Congress hits out at Ashok Tanwar, says 'he was not a big leader'

AAP holds press briefing on Sawhney's entry

AAP had announced in a press conference held on Sunday morning. Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced about Sawhney's decision. Speaking to media, Singh said, " We are happy to announce that Parlad Singh Sawhney, who was a four-time MLA from Chandni Chowk and one time Parishad, has joined AAP. He is one of the strongest pillars who will soon be going to work for AAP. We are very happy."

READ | AAP releases list of main campaigners for upcoming Haryana polls

About Parlad Singh Sawhney

The 68-year-old politician began his career by contesting the civic polls from Mori Gate in the year 1977. While he was defeated then, he managed to win from the same ward in 1983. His son Purnadeep Singh Sawhney is a Congress leader. He had contested the 2017 municipal polls from Chandni Chowk but was defeated by the BJP candidate.  

Several turncoats ahead of polls

There have been several instances of politicians switching parties ahead of the polls.  A few days back, Congress leader Nitesh Rane joined the BJP ahead of the Maharashtra polls on October 21. He is the son of prominent Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane. During the Lok Sabha elections also, Arjun Singh joined the BJP former Trinamool Congress leader. Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha left the BJP to join Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, he was beaten by BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad from the Patna Sahib constituency in Bihar. Formerly, a loyal aide of Sonia Gandhi, Tom Vadakkan switched parties to join the BJP.

READ | Delhi: AAP MLAs inspect potholes, files 1897900 complaints on PWD app

AAP contesting in Haryana polls

The Aam Aadmi Party, on Friday evening, submitted the list of star campaigners for the upcoming Haryana assembly elections. The list had the names of 20 members of the party who will be campaigning for the elections. The list had the names of all senior members, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Gopal Rai, Priya Sharma, etc. The release of the list means that the earlier reports of Kejriwal, along with other senior leaders not campaigning for the polls have been proven wrong. 

READ | Congress hits out at Ashok Tanwar, says 'he was not a big leader'