Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and merged his party Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) with the BJP. Singh joined BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Kiren Rijiju, BJP leader Sunil Jakhar, and BJP Punjab chief Ashwani Sharma.

Addressing the media after joining the party, Singh said that it was ‘time to join a party that is looking after the interests of the country’. ” Punjab is a border state, and I have seen our relations with Pakistan deteriorating… Drones are coming into our territory now to create complete chaos in Punjab. China is also not far from us. It’s our duty to protect our state and the country,” he said.

Welcoming Singh, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that despite being the opposition during his previous stint with the Congress, the BJP never felt that Captain Amarinder Singh has ever compromised on national security. “The way India is progressing. Right thinking people should be united. Punjab should be managed by the right kind of people. I want to welcome the heartiest welcome to Captain,” Rijiju said.

“On behalf of BJP and the all the workers I welcome Captain Amarinder Singh. We are aware Punjab is a border state. The main focus of a border state is the safety and security of the country. Captain’s thinking has always matched with the BJP,” Tomar said.

Singh formed the PLC after quitting the Congress party after his unceremonious exit from the party last year. He was succeeded by Charanjit Singh Channi. In the Punjab Assembly elections that followed, both, Singh, and Channi lost the polls. Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 30. Earlier during the day, Singh met BJP chief JP Nadda.