Two Shiromani Akali Dal legislators joined the Congress on Tuesday, reported PTI. Mahesh Inder Singh from the Baghapurana constituency and Rajwinder Kaur from Nihal Singh Wala officially joined the rival party in Delhi in the presence of Congress Punjab chief Amarinder Singh. SAD leader Pritam Singh Kotbhai and social activist from Phillaur Ajay Sharma also joined the Congress. The state will have its Assembly polls in 2017.

The legislators said they had always been loyal to the party, but refused to be the Badals’ slaves. Mahesh Inder Singh claimed he was not allowed to contest the elections, and the party sent police to his house to intimidate him. “They think they can terrorise me. I have quit the Akali Dal not for being denied a party ticket but out of humiliation,” he said.

The Punjab unit chief of Congress said the move would help the party in the upcoming elections. He said more leaders of the state’s ruling party and the Aam Admi Party were expected to join the Congress in the run up to the elections. “As per the tradition, there is no commitment in their joining the Congress. They have joined unconditionally,” Singh said.