Capt. Amarinder, who remained Punjab’s Chief Minister twice during the Congress regime, joined the BJP in 2022 after merging his party, the Punjab Lok Congress (PLC). File
| Photo Credit: PTI
A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi named him as his favourite politician from the BJP, former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday (August 7, 2026) said his personal and family ties with Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi would always remain, but reiterated that he continues to be politically committed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Capt. Amarinder said he has known Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi since they were children, adding that their father, former Prime Minister the late Rajiv Gandhi, was his classmate and friend. He added that his personal and family ties with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, will always stay, but politically he remains committed to the BJP.
Capt. Amarinder, who remained Punjab’s Chief Minister twice during the Congress regime, joined the BJP in 2022 after merging his party, the Punjab Lok Congress (PLC). He left the Indian National Congress in 2021 on the pretext that he was hurt by the conduct of the party leader Sonia Gandhi and her children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra Gandhi.
In December 2025, Capt. Amarinder had stated that he finds the BJP rigid in its approach, even as the Congress party is more flexible and has a consultative outlook. His remark created a significant political furore in Punjab.
On Thursday (August 6, 2026), Mr. Gandhi’s made the remark in a video, which was shared on Instagram by the Congress leader. “Captain Amarinder Singh, definitely. I get along with him and he is cool and he is an expert on military history. Hello, uncle Amarinder,” said Mr. Gandhi, replying to a question about his favourite BJP leader during an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on Instagram.
(With PTI Inputs)
Published – August 07, 2026 09:28 pm IST
