Virtually relegated to the position of a “General without an Army”, Punjab’s former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder, after recently launching a one-man party, on Sunday declared that he would fight Punjab’s great electoral battle from his family bastion — Patiala. Amarinder, whose Punjab Lok Congress is awaiting approval from the Election Commission, declared that he would not leave Patiala to contest polls against Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has made it clear that he would seek re-election from the

Amritsar East Assembly segment.

Notably, Amarinder, when he was the Chief Minister, had challenged Sidhu to contest polls against him from Patiala. Singh has said Sidhu would be defeated just like SAD’s General (retd) JJ Singh, who forfeited his security deposit against Amarinder in 2017 Assembly polls.

“I will not leave Patiala seat...it has been with us for 400 years...and I will not leave it for the sake of Sidhu,” Amarinder was quoted in a post shared in social media.

Amarinder hails from Royal family of Patiala and is commonly addressed as “Maharaja ji” by the locals. He  has been elected MLA from Patiala four times.

At the same time, Preneet Kaur, Congress MP from Patiala, also gave enough indications that she would soon be part of Punjab Lok Congress.

Preneet, who has not yet resigned from the Congress party to join her husband’s new political outfit, said, “Amarinder has always stood by the commitment he makes. Main apne parivaar de naal haan (I am with my family).”

The development assumes significance as Amarinder is currently working on his party and, at the same time, warming up to the BJP. As of now, Amarinder is the lone soldier in his new outfit. His staunch supporters and loyalists in the Congress have adopted a wait and watch policy.

The former Chief Minister had announced that his Punjab Lok Congress would contest all 117 Assembly seats in the State. At the same time, Amarinder has repeatedly made it clear that he is “looking forward” to arrive at a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP, after the Prime Minister announced to repeal the controversial farm laws.

Sources informed The Pioneer that the former Chief Minister is in the process of identifying the potential leaders, especially in the ruling Congress, who could shift their loyalties to his party.