AMRITSAR: The controversial BJP leader and protege of local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu Col Amrik Singh (retd) Friday took charge as the district BJP  president at Khanna Samark. His appointment made at the behest of Sidhu had annoyed local BJP men.

Former state BJP president Balramji Dass Tandon, who belongs to Amritsar had alleged  that appointing Col Amrik Singh as district BJP president could turn out to be 'costly' for the party at the time when the Lok Sabha elections were round the corner and added that he would take up the matter with the national leadership on the issue .

Col Amrik Singh was alleged to have "deserted" the party four years ago when he was replaced as district president and is also known to have been high handed with some party activists during his earlier tenure . General secretary of the district BJP Naresh Sharma on the appointment of Col Amrik Singh preferred to remain mum .