AAP Leader Harsharan Singh Balli joins BJP after four-year hiatus

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Former Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Sardar Harsharan Singh Balli, has rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after nearly four years. He officially joined the BJP on Sunday in the presence of Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, along with senior party leaders Subhash Arya and Subhash Sachdeva. Balli’s son, Sardar Gurmeet Singh 'Rinku' Balli, also joined the BJP alongside him.

Balli, a former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Hari Nagar constituency between 1993 and 2013, had previously served as the Industrial Minister in the government of former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana. He left the BJP in January 2020 to join AAP, in the presence of then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. Balli's return to the BJP comes at a time when the party is engaged in a political tussle with AAP, especially over concerns related to air pollution in the national capital.

Recently, BJP leaders staged a protest against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the rising pollution levels, citing 108 cases of stubble burning in Punjab on October 26. Despite these concerns, Delhi government officials have repeatedly blamed neighboring states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for contributing to the pollution. Delhi BJP President Sachdeva expressed frustration over the issue, pointing out that while Delhi ministers often place the blame on these states, the ongoing situation has raised significant concerns among Delhi's residents.