The SAD has accused the Congress of backing alleged gangsters in the state to win the general election by hook or by crook.
An alleged gangster joined the Congress last week and the local leaders have termed it a desperate bid by the Congress to win the election.
The SAD said: “A turncoat Congress leader is said to be behind the move of making the gangsters join the party.”
Sources in the intelligence said the alleged gangster who joined the Congress carried a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head. “This is how a politico-gangster nexus hurts the police and society,” said a senior officer.
Alleged gangster Randeep Singh Kharoud hails from Baran in Sanaur and is facing attempt to murder, arms and robbery cases.
He had been desperate to join politics for the past three years. Earlier an AAP supporter, he was sidelined by Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi after his name cropped up in many criminal cases.
Reacting to media report, Congress's Patiala candidate Preneet Kaur said she would show the door to such criminals and that the Congress had no place for such goons. “We have zero tolerance for such criminals joining politics,” she said.
Reacting to the development, SAD leader Bikram Majithia said the “politics and gangster nexus” would not help the Congress. “The Congress should be careful not to get involved with gangsters,” he added.
Meanwhile, intelligence agencies say there are reports of around 10 alleged gangsters desperately trying to join a political party.