Now, Jain’s close aide joins SAD

Following the footsteps of his friend-cum-business partner Joginder Pal Jain, after reportedly being ignored for 35 years and denied a ticket for the Moga bypoll, Jagroop Singh Takhtupura joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday.

Takhtupura had registered strong protest immediately after Congress' decision to grant ticket to Vijay Sathi, and told the Indian Express, "I am extremely disappointed and unhappy over the decision because my hard work for the past 35 years has been ignored. I was the strongest contender for the ticket."

Belonging to Takhtupura village of Nihal Singh Wala, where he was the sarpanch for 15 years, Takhtupura after joining SAD said, "I worked at the grassroot level for 35 years, and established Congress' base in Moga. I coordinated with workers and spent money from my pocket to promote the Congress, but in the end the ticket was given to an outsider (Vijay Sathi)."

Slamming the Congress for never consulting workers before deciding whom to give the ticket to, he said, "All the workers, who worked with me at the ground level are still supporting me and now they will vote for SAD. Congress never consulted them before deciding the name".

"I have my personal vote bank of around 10,000 voters and now it will be a benefit for SAD, and a huge loss for the Congress," he added.

Reportedly, 57-year-old Takhtupura is into property business with Jain, and the latter played a major role in his entry to SAD. "With the Congress, I almost lost faith in working hard. Jain, on my behalf, approached Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and, thus, the decision was taken on Saturday evening," he said.

"I told Captain that I could not tolerate to be ignored any more and so I was leaving the party," said Takhtupura, when asked about his conversation with PPCC president Captain Amarinder Singh.

... contd.

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