Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa onWednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ahead of the next year'sPunjab Assembly elections.
Sirsa, a former member of the Delhi Assembly, joined thesaffron party in the presence of Union Minister and Punjab election in-chargeGajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, national generalsecretary and Punjab in-charge Dushyant Gautam, and national media in-chargeAnil Baluni.
Before joining the BJP on Wednesday evening, Sirsaresigned from the post of president Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee --to which he was elected as an SAD member.
In a tweet, Sirsa said: "With gratitude to alloffice bearers, members, staff and people who worked with me; I am resigningfrom Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee as President. I will not contestthe upcoming DSGMC internal elections. My commitment to serve my community,humanity and nation remains the same."
Before his formal joining at the party headquarters here,Sirsa also met BJP chief JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
"He worked for three years as president of DelhiSikh Gurudwara Management Committee. The BJP is strengthened with the joiningof new faces. His joining will benefit the party in Punjab assembly polls. Iwelcome Sirsa," Shekhawat said.
After joining the party, Sirsa, a former MLA from RajouriGarden in the national capital, thanked the BJP leadership.