The event saw the presence of key AAP leaders

Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon, a former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader from Gidderbaha, officially joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Muktsar.

Dhillon, once a close associate of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, had recently announced his departure from SAD, expressing openness to joining AAP. His decision was driven by his commitment to the development of the Gidderbaha constituency, which is currently facing challenges.

The event saw the presence of key AAP leaders, including Cabinet Minister Aman Arora and MLA Gurmeet Khudian, among others. Gidderbaha is set for a by-election, and Dhillon has expressed a strong interest in contesting the seat under the AAP banner.

Following consultations with his supporters, Dhillon emphasized that joining AAP was a collective decision made in the best interest of the constituency. He stated, "I am keen to contest the by-elections. My primary focus is securing development funds for Gidderbaha, and if I receive assurances on this front, I will fully commit to AAP."

Dhillon's announcement comes at a time when Sukhbir Singh Badal made a public appeal for him to return to SAD, offering a 10-day window for a response before making any decisions regarding the Gidderbaha seat.

A seasoned transporter and politician, Dhillon has contested the Gidderbaha seat twice under the SAD banner since 2017 but was unsuccessful. The seat became vacant after Amarinder Singh Raja Warring resigned as MLA following his election to the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat. In the 2022 assembly elections, Dhillon narrowly lost by 1,349 votes, with AAP's candidate Pritpal Sharma finishing third.