Former Congress MLA and entrepreneur Raminder Singh Awla joins SAD in Chandigarh

PTC News Desk: In a significant political development, senior Congress leader Raminder Singh Awla on Sunday joined Shiromani Akali Dali at party president Sukhbir Singh Badal's residence in Chandigarh. 

Awla, who hails from the adjoining Guruharsahai Assembly segment in Ferozepur district, remained active in the Congress after losing the 2022 Assembly election.

"It is a pleasure to welcome senior Congress leader and former MLA from Jalalabad, Raminder Singh Awla, into the Shiromani Akali Dal fold," Sukhbir Singh Badal wrote in social media post. 

According to the reports, Congress leaders Raminder Singh Awla and Lok Sabha MP Sher Singh Ghubaya had differences over the party ticket in Ferozepur.

The displeasure among local leaders, including Raminder Singh Awla, was widely discussed at the time. However, the Congress high command ultimately gave Ghubaya the party ticket.

Who is former Congress MLA Raminder Singh Awla ?

Raminder Singh Awla represented Jalalabad in the Punjab Assembly from 2019 to 2022. He won the seat in the October 2019 by-election, defeating Akali Dal candidate Raj Singh Dibipura. The constituency had fallen vacant after Sukhbir Singh Badal won the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Ferozepur.

Awla belongs to the neighbouring Guru Har Sahai Assembly constituency in Ferozepur district. He remained active in the Congress after losing the 2022 Assembly election. Earlier, there had also been speculation about him joining the BJP.

A prominent businessman and former president of the Punjab Youth Congress, Awla led the Congress campaign in the Guru Har Sahai municipal elections earlier this year. The party won 13 of the 15 wards.

Although Awla has had confrontations with the Akali Dal in the past, his decision to join the party is expected to strengthen its position in Ferozepur and Fazilka districts ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, as he has a political presence in both areas.