Panchkula, May 8: Former councillor Omwati Poonia has returned to the Bharatiya Janata Party fold just days after her formal expulsion. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and State President Mohan Lal Baroli visited Poonia’s residence on Friday to reconcile with the leader, who had originally filed to contest as an independent candidate from Ward 12.
The reconciliation follows the May 3 decision by the district leadership to expel Poonia and her husband, Sukhbir Poonia, for anti-party activities. Following the meeting with the Chief Minister, Poonia announced she would end her independent campaign and work toward a victory for the official BJP candidate, Rakesh Jagota.
“The BJP family is constantly growing stronger and party workers receive full respect,” Chief Minister Saini stated during the visit. He affirmed that the inclusion of dedicated workers is vital for the party’s success in the upcoming polls. To mark her return, State President Baroli presented Poonia with a traditional BJP turban.
During the visit, Poonia performed a symbolic gesture by tying a Rakhi to the Chief Minister, declaring the act represented a “thread of trust” between her and the party. She affirmed that she would remain loyal to the organization moving forward and asserted that her supporters would now focus their efforts on securing a landslide victory for the party.
Poonia maintained that her commitment to the party’s objectives remains firm despite the recent friction. The gathering included several senior leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Surendra Nagar and State Vice President Banto Kataria. The move is seen as an effort by the BJP to consolidate its vote bank in Ward 12 and resolve internal dissent before the final polling day.
