Amarinder Singh: Personal bond with Gandhis intact, political loyalty with BJP

Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday said his personal and family ties with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi remain unchanged, even as he reiterated his political commitment to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The clarification came a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi named him as his favourite politician from the BJP during an Instagram interaction.

In a statement, Captain Amarinder said he has known Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi since they were children. He recalled that their father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was his classmate and friend. “My personal and family ties with Rahul and Sonia Gandhi will always remain,” he said, but added that “politically I am with the BJP.”

The former Congress leader joined the BJP in 2022 after merging his party, the Punjab Lok Congress, with the saffron party. He had left the Indian National Congress in 2021, citing dissatisfaction with the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and her children. His departure marked a significant shift in Punjab's political landscape, given his two tenures as Chief Minister under the Congress banner.

Thursday's remark by Rahul Gandhi came during an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on Instagram, where he was asked to name his favourite BJP leader. In a video shared on his official handle, Mr. Gandhi said, “Captain Amarinder Singh, definitely. I get along with him and he is cool and he is an expert on military history. Hello, uncle Amarinder.”

The light-hearted exchange has drawn attention amid the charged political atmosphere in Punjab. Captain Amarinder’s response underscores the complexities of personal relationships in politics, even as ideological lines remain drawn.

Notably, in December 2025, Captain Amarinder had remarked that the BJP is “rigid” in its approach while the Congress is “more flexible and consultative.” That statement had stirred a political furore, particularly in Punjab, where the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress have been locked in a bitter rivalry.

Political analysts note that Amarinder’s latest comments could be seen as an attempt to balance his historical ties with the Gandhi family and his current allegiance to the BJP. The former Maharaja of Patiala has often spoken of his personal friendships across party lines, but his political actions have consistently aligned with the BJP since 2022.

As the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections draw closer, such exchanges may carry more than symbolic weight. Observers will be watching whether this public display of mutual respect translates into any political realignment, or if it remains a matter of personal cordiality.