Team News Riveting
Chandigarh, April 11
Despite warning from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, 2011-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Parampal is the daughter-in-law of SAD leader, Sikander Singh Maluka. She tendered her resignation from the service a few days ago and hinted at joining politics.
The Chief Minister also warned Parampal Kaur that joining a political party without resignation being accepted could land her in trouble. Mann said that her resignation has not been accepted by the government. Taking to X, the Chief Minister asked her to understand the procedure for acceptance of voluntary retirement. He also warned of ramifications for violating the norms.
Parampal is likely to be BJP’s candidate from Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, which is represented by Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal’s wife and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Harsimrat Kaur was elected MP from this seat for the first time in 2009 and has represented the seat since then. It is believed that this time also Akali Dal will field Harsimrat Kaur as its candidate from Bathinda.
Aam Aadmi Party has made Gurmeet Singh Khudian its candidate from this seat while Congress is yet to announce the candidate.
Parampal Kaur Sidhu has been the Managing Director of Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation. She had sent her resignation to Chief Secretary Anurag Verma a few days ago. Retiring in October, Sidhu was a Punjab Civil Services officer and was awarded IAS in January 2011.
Voting will be held in the last phase of Lok Sabha elections in Punjab on June 1. There are 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, which will four cornered contested between Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, BJP and Akali Dal.
