Ludhiana, July 18

Madan Lal Bagga, who was expelled from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday, joined Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday. Known to be close to the Badal family, Bagga joined AAP along with a large number of associates and supporters. Party national spokesperson, MLA from Delhi and Punjab affairs co-in charge Raghav Chadha, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Harpal Singh Cheema, Deputy Leader of Opposition Saravjit Kaur Manuke, MLA Master Baldev Singh and district president Suresh Goyal formally inducted Bagga and his associates into AAP.

Welcoming him to the partyfold on behalf of party president Arvind Kejriwal, Chadha said with Bagga’s joining, AAP had become stronger not only in Ludhiana but in the whole state.

Bagga was senior vice-president of the trade and industry wing of SAD and vice chairman of the Board of Commerce, Punjab, with the status of Minister of State in the previous SAD-BJP government. He was also the president of Shiromani Akali Dal, Ludhiana (Urban), and remained councillor twice. The SAD leadership had expelled him from the party for six years for his “anti-party activities” on Saturday evening. — OC