Former Union Minister and sitting Congress MP from Patiala Preneet Kaur gears up to officially join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday. With a political career spanning several decades, the five-time MP Preneet’s anticipated move marks a significant chapter in her journey, bringing with it a host of implications for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Currently placed “under suspension” by the Congress party for her “anti-party” activities, Preneet will officially be the member of the saffron brigade, two years after her husband and former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh joined hands with the BJP ahead of 2022 state assembly polls, along with their daughter Jai Inder Kaur and son Raninder Singh.

Against the speculations that Preneet will hand over the baton to her daughter Jai Inder Kaur, currently the Punjab BJP Mahila Morcha president, for Patiala Lok Sabha seat, it has been learnt that the Maharani of Patiala will seek re-election from their home constituency for the sixth time but this time, as BJP candidate.

Born on October 3, 1945, Preneet entered the political arena with a legacy of public service. Married to the charismatic Capt Amarinder — the two-time Chief Minister of Punjab, she ventured into politics with the Congress party, gradually carving her niche in the political landscape of Punjab. Her father-in-law Yadavindra Singh, and her mother-in-law Mohinder Kaur, both served as Members of Parliament, providing a familial foundation for her political foray.

Preneet’s political journey gained momentum when she won her first election in 1999, securing the Patiala Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket. Her popularity and connect with the people of Patiala grew, leading to subsequent victories in the 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Throughout her tenure as an MP, she actively addressed the concerns of her constituents, focusing on developmental initiatives, healthcare, and educational reforms.

The year 2021 marked a significant turning point in Preneet’s political career. In a shocking development, Punjab’s politics witnessed a seismic shift with the Congress party replacing the then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder with Charanjit Singh Channi. This shift in power dynamics had ripple effects, prompting Preneet to distance herself from the Congress party. Her decision to step back from the party that had been her political home for decades sent shockwaves through the political landscape.

Amidst the changing political tides, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring has, several times, announced in public gatherings that Preneet would not be contesting as a Congress candidate from Patiala in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. As of now, the party is looking for a suitable candidate to fight against the Patiala royal family.

As Preneet, who has been openly campaigning for BJP since long, set to officially join the BJP, her political acumen and grassroots connect become crucial assets for the saffron party. Known for her dedication to public service, Preneet’s decision to align with the BJP will set to turn the Patiala Lok Sabha constituency, a traditional Congress stronghold, into a major challenge for the grand old party.

With her formidable track record and established rapport with the people of Patiala, Preneet emerged as a strong contender for re-election, this time under the BJP banner.