Former Congress legislator Dalvir Singh Khangura ‘Goldy’ on Wednesday joined the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Just a day after bidding farewell to the Congress due to his discontent with the party leadership's decision to deny him a ticket for the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, Goldy’s surprising alignment with AAP has sent shockwaves through the political corridors of the State.
The move not only dealt a significant blow to the Congress party in Punjab, particularly in the Sangrur segment, but also set the stage for a potential realignment of political dynamics in the region. Congress’ Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has been pitted against AAP’s Barnala MLA and Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Sangrur — a seat currently represented by Khalistan supporter and former IPS Simranjeet Singh Mann of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar).
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann presided over Goldy’s induction into AAP, marking a significant moment in their political journey, having contested against each other in the 2022 state assembly elections in Dhuri. Mann had defeated Goldy by a margin of 58,206 votes to become the Chief Minister.
Hailing him as a hardworking individual, Mann welcomed Goldy as a younger brother into the party fold. Mann, in fact, went on to describe Goldy and Meet Hayer as his “two arms in Malwa region”.
Goldy, after his induction, expressed gratitude towards the Chief Minister Mann for his generosity in embracing someone who had previously contested against him. He pledged his unwavering commitment to AAP and vowed to work tirelessly for the betterment of Punjab.
At the same time, Goldy vowed to reveal the “dirty secrets of Congress”, while exposing “how they ruined so many homes”.
Mann emphasized that Goldy's decision to join AAP was driven by his own choice, highlighting that AAP provides a conducive platform for emerging young leaders like him. “It is not Goldy who left Congress but rather Congress that overlooked him,” he said.
Criticizing Khaira, Mann recalled his previous electoral performance in Bathinda, where he fell short of garnering even 19,000 votes. Mann predicted a similar outcome for Khaira in Sangrur, suggesting that he would be compelled to apologize to the electorate on June 4 — the day of result.
Goldy’s decision to switch parties came after the Congress nominated Khaira as its candidate for the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, overlooking Goldy’s aspirations. Feeling sidelined by the party's leadership, Goldy made the bold move to join AAP, citing the need for a more inclusive and transparent political environment.
Taking on the Congress for nepotism in ticket distribution, Mann contrasted AAP's ethos of meritocracy. Welcoming Goldy to AAP, Mann hailed him as a dynamic leader, emphasizing AAP’s inclusive ethos devoid of a high command structure.
Mann also highlighted Goldy's political journey, from student politics to MLA, underscoring AAP’s commitment to nurturing diverse talent. “Goldy made a place for himself in the Congress. But whenever the party got an opportunity, he was sidelined. I am inducting him into AAP as a younger brother. We have no high command. We are younger and older brothers…We have found a young man in Malwa. Our party will be strengthened,” said Mann.
“Dalvir Goldy was an MLA from Dhuri and I was the MP...and we crossed each other many times…we were also in touch that time. It is democracy. It is not necessary that all flowers are of the same kind in a bouquet. I had always said MP belongs to everyone…I am the Chief Minister of everyone…Candidates are till elections. Later, we all are elected representatives,” he said.
“Why I was asked to pat Rs 50k and apply for ticket”
Visibly upset over allotting a ticket to Khaira, Goldy asked, “If they had to give the ticket to him, why did they ask me to apply for the ticket and pay Rs 50,000 as application fee when they had already finalized the candidate?”
“I and my wife applied for the ticket because we were told to do so, but now Khaira is saying that he knew for more than six months that he'll be contesting from Sangrur….This is discouraging for a young leader like me who worked every day and prepared to fight from Sangrur since the by polls,” he added. He said that a number of people were joining AAP with him and that he would be reaching Sangrur on Thursday to campaign for AAP candidate Hayer.
Goldy Is Clean: Mann
Responding to Khaira's allegations that Goldy was “pressurized” to join the ruling party, Mann said: “Goldy is clean. We have checked him. We keep checking our own people also. It is not Goldy who has quit the party. Parties need people like Goldy who are good orators, and hardworking.” “You know what they (Congress) have done. The Bathinda-based leader has been sent to Ludhiana. The Sangrur-based leader has been sent to Anandpur Sahib. This is what they do,” Mann said.
