Ramoowalia joins UP cabinet; Akali Dal terms him "power hungry"
Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday "expelled" former parliamentarian Balwant Singh Ramoowalia from the primary membership of the party, a spokesman said here. The expulsion came within hours of Ramoowalia joining the Uttar Pradesh government as a cabinet minister. "Ramoowalia has displayed the height of political opportunism and power hunger by betraying the party that gave him everything to hitch his boat with the Samajwadi Party," the party said in a strongly-worded reaction. The ruling party accused Ramoowalia of "betrayal" and dubbed him "power hungry". Ramoowalia, a former union minister, merged his Lok Bhalai Party with the Akali Dal in November 2011, ahead of the January 2012 assembly polls in Punjab. He contested the Mohali assembly seat in 2012 but was defeated. "Ramoowalia's action is reminiscent of the days of 'aaya ram gaya ram' politics," senior Akali Dal leaders Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Prem Singh Chandumajra and Daljit Singh Cheema said in a statement here.
