Chandigarh, Oct. 2 -- Former minister Anil Joshi on Wednesday joined the Congress in the presence of the party's state in-charge and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and other state leaders. His joining came days after Joshi met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal in Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, Joshi thanked the Congress leadership for providing him with the opportunity to serve the party. "Under the current circumstances, I am of the firm belief that only the Congress can lead Punjab on to the path of progress and development," said Joshi, who was a prominent Hindu face in Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Along with Joshi, activist Deepak Lamba also joined Congress. Two-time MLA, who served as a minister during the SAD-BJP regime from 2012 to 2017, Joshi was expelled from the BJP after he criticised the Centre for 'mishandling' the farmers' agitation against the three now-repealed farm laws in 2021. Thereafter, he joined the SAD. Addressing a press conference, Baghel and Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring welcomed Joshi and Lamba into the Congress. "It will further strengthen the party in the state, which was already on ascendancy," Baghel said. Congress legislative party (CLP) leader Partap Singh Bajwa welcomed both Joshi and Lamba into the party fold. The Congress also launched a signature campaign against the 'vote-chori' as part of the nationwide campaign under which 5 crore signatures will be submitted to the Election Commission of India on October 15. As many as 15 lakh signatures will be submitted from Punjab. Baghel said the BJP government at the Centre had been completely exposed after the revelations made by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, with foolproof evidence. Baghel also announced that the Punjab Congress will organise a state-wide 'yatra' against the vote-theft, which will pass through all the districts of the state to create awareness among the masses....