CHANDIGARH: Bidding to lead the anti-BJP forces in the near future, Trinamool Congress boss lady Mamata Banerjee has pulled a rabbit out of her hat in Punjab, by appointing a long-time Congress dissident Jagmit Singh Brar as her party's chief in Punjab.
Coming ahead of the Assembly elections in the state in early 2017, sources said, this is a maneouvre by the Trinamool Congress to forge an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party [AAP] in the state.
Brar is a a former MP and a former member of the Congress Working Committee. He was expelled from the party in April this year.
Trinamool Congress vice-president Mukul Roy said, "Brar has been fighting for the people of Punjab for years. He will now fight against corruption and drug menace in the state."
Brar met up with his new boss Mamata Banerjee yesterday on the sidelines of her demonetisation protest in New Delhi. He has been regularly in touch with her for the past few months.
About cosying up to AAP, Brar said, "I have extended my unconditional support to AAP in Punjab after due consultations with Mamataji and my decision to join the TMC is part of a larger initiative to build a national alternative."
And drawing upon a historical parallel, he added, "I will fight the Abdalis of Punjab with Kejriwal and the Tughlak of Delhi with Mamatai."
The 'Abdalis' is a reference to the Afghan invader of Punjab in the 18th century and 'Tughlak' is a refernce to the capricious sultan of Delhi in the 14th century.