Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt), tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. The Rajya Sabha member was set to participate in Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's rally in Ferozepur, Punjab, but had returned after receiving the test results.
Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for development projects worth Rs 42,750 crore in the election-bound state.
According to a party statement, Mr Dhindsa has isolated himself at his home. Dhindsa has urged everybody who has come into contact with him to get tested for the infection.
For the 2022 state assembly elections, Dhindsa's Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) and former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress have teamed up with the BJP.
The saffron party is gearing up to contest for around 70 seats out of 117, for the first time. Captain Amarinder’s party will contest for 30 seats and Dhindsa’s outfit for 17.
Following the news, ex-Congress leader Captain Amarinder tweeted, "Wishing Sukhdev Dhindsa ji, who has tested covid positive, a speedy recovery.”
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Several politicians, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari and Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, have already announced that they had tested positive for
Covid-19.
On Twitter, Arvind Kejriwal stated, "I have tested positive for Covid. Mild symptoms. Have isolated myself at home. Those who came in touch with me in last few days, kindly isolate
urself and get urself tested."
Manoj Tiwari and Surjewal also rushed to Twitter to reveal that they had tested positive for Covid.
Politicians getting covid positive ahead of crucial Punjab elections have once again raised questions of people’s safety. Where a need for postponement of elections amid sudden covid
surge and Omicron threat is evident, the poll body is unlikely to defer elections.
People in large numbers are seen gathering and avoiding covid guidelines at rallies held by political leaders ahead of crucial polls. Meanwhile, thousands of people of Punjab are expected
to gather are PM Modi’s Ferozepur rally.