Punjab elections: Veteran BJP leader Madan Mohan Mittal joins SAD, appointed senior vice-president of party

CHANDIGARH: In a big setback to the BJP, one of its senior-most leaders in Punjab Madan Mohan Mittal (82), a former cabinet minister, joined the party's old ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal appointed Mittal as senior vice-president of the party and in charge of the Anandpur Sahib assembly constituency. To a question whether Mittal or his son would contest the February 20 assembly polls from Anandpur Sahib, Sukhbir replied that this decision would be left to the SAD's alliance partner Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as the Anandpur Sahib constituency is in its kitty. BSP has already announced Nitin Nanda as its candidate from this constituency. Mittal's son Arvind and many other panchayat and block samiti members also joined the SAD on Saturday.
After the SAD had severed its alliance with the BJP in September 2020 due to the three contentious central farm laws, Mittal had then said that this decision would harm the SAD more than the BJP. He had also said that if former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had been steering the party as its president, he would have shown more foresightedness. However, on Saturday, Mittal while holding Sukhbir's hand said that he wants to see him as chief minister of Punjab and described him as "his son."
Former MLA from Anandpur Sahib, Mittal was eyeing the BJP ticket for his son Arvind from the constituency but the BJP declined his request and fielded Dr Parminder Sharma, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2017 assembly polls from the constituency.

"I have left the BJP with a very heavy heart," said Mittal, claiming that he had not requested anyone for the ticket but his party was not able to protect the rights of the people of the Anandpur Sahib constituency. He said that the BJP had earlier denied him a ticket stating that he had attained the age of 75 years.
Mittal said he was instrumental in cementing communal ties after a period of strife along with former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

"We have seen rampant illegal mining in Anandpur Sahib constituency, which needs to be stopped. Truckers and truck unions have also been robbed of their livelihood. I have stepped forward to work for the welfare of Anandpur Sahib and end the discrimination being meted out to it," said former minister Mittal.