Punjab polls 2017: Ex-CM Beant Singh's daughter joins BJP, slams Cong for not recognising her

Pic courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: In a major jolt to the Congress ahead of Punjab assembly polls, former Punjab chief minister late Beant Singh's daughter Gurkanwal Kaur on Saturday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Kaur was in New Delhi on Saturday at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's residence, where she announced her decision.

Kaur, who served as a minister in the Punjab Government, expressed her discontent upon being neglected by the Congress Party for years.

"I have worked a lot in Congress and served them with my utmost dedication, but they never recognised my work. I used to be a Minister and head the Congress' women's wing for 11 years, but they never recognised my work. The Congress even failed to recognise my father's work who sacrificed himself for Punjab," Kaur told ANI.

The former minister added that she was impressed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s policies which is why she joined the BJP.Welcoming Kaur, Jaitley said the party would gain immense benefit with her inclusion and made sure that she would be handed a responsible post within the party functionary.

"Their family played an important role in Punjab politics, and everyone recognises that. I am sure that the party will benefit with their inclusion. BJP will make sure she gets her due," Jaitley said.

Gurkanwal Kaur was an MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment from 2002 to 2007.

She is the sister of former minister Tej Pratap Singh and Gurkeerat Kotli and aunt of Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu.