Captain launches own party, says will ally with BJP in Punjab elections

New Delhi: Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state, Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday announced the launch of his own political party. The name of the party shall be announced after consultations with the Election Commission of India.

Singh said that he would meet Home Minister Amit Shah regarding issues concerning the state on Thursday. It would be his third meeting with Shah in recent days. The new party is expected to have an alliance with the BJP.

Regarding his resignation from his former party, the Congress, he said, "I have been in the Congress for the past 52 years. If I can't resign for the next 10 days, what is the harm to it."

Earlier, responding to personal attacks by his former Congress colleagues, Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said, "From personal attacks, they've now stooped to threats and harassment of my supporters in Patiala and elsewhere. Let me tell my rivals they can't defeat me with such low-level political games. They will neither win votes nor people's hearts with such tactics."

"Those who have stood by me have done so because they believe in and want to continue working for Punjab's peace and development. They will not be scared away by such petty acts of intimidation or persecution. We will continue to fight for Punjab's future," he added.

Amarinder had announced that he would launch his own party last week. His party would serve the interests of the people including farmers who have been protesting for their rights for the past year, Amarinder said. If the farmers' protest is resolved in the interest of the farmers, he is hopeful of a seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections, he clarified. The former Chief Minister of Punjab resigned from the Congress on September 18 despite being a three-time state Party president.

I will not rest until I can secure the future of my people and state, Amarinder said.

Amarinder's meetings with Amit Shah after his resignation had earlier triggered speculations that he might join the BJP.

"Punjab needs political stability and protection from internal and external threats. I promise my people that I will do what it takes to ensure peace and security, which is today at stake," read his tweet.

Since his resignation as the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh has been targeting state Congress President Navjot Sidhu by publically saying that he would fight his possible elevation to the Chief Ministership tooth and nail. I am ready to make any sacrifice to save the country from such a "dangerous man", he added.

He further claimed that Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are "quite inexperienced" and "their advisors were clearly misguiding them".