Report Wire

Tag: punjab assembly elections

  • Congress scripted its personal defeat in Punjab, says senior celebration chief in obvious jibe at Sidhu

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Former Punjab minister and senior Congress chief Balbir Singh Sidhu on Sunday stated that the Congress management scripted its personal defeat by giving energy to turncoats and opportunists who have been alien to the Congress, its historical past and tradition.

    Reacting to the celebration’s drubbing within the Punjab meeting polls, Sidhu stated, “The decline of the party’s prospects started the day Sunil Jakhar, a dyed-in-wool Congressman, was replaced by an outsider Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had joined the Congress just four years ago.”

    Asserting that the Congress “committed one blunder after another”, Balbir Sidhu stated eradicating Amarinder Singh because the chief minister proved to be the final straw that broke the camel’s again which finally led to the “complete collapse” of the celebration and the federal government.

    Amarinder Singh was unseated from the chief minister’s submit final 12 months following a bitter feud between him and Navjot Singh Sidhu.

    In a press release right here, the previous well being minister stated the celebration’s third mistake was refusing to nominate Sunil Jakhar because the chief minister simply because he was a Hindu, regardless of the help of an amazing majority of the celebration MLAs and the secular character and tradition of the Congress.

    “If the Congress had believed in politics of religion, Giani Zail Singh wouldn’t be the president, Dr Manmohan Singh wouldn’t be the prime minister and Buta Singh wouldn’t be the home minister,” he stated.

    “All this was followed by the appointment of Charanjit Singh Channi, who again was not a real Congressman, as he had tried his luck with the Shiromani Akali Dal and the People’s Party of Punjab before joining the Congress. The Congress party and the government was handed over to rank outsiders,” Balbir Sidhu asserted.

    He stated the way in which the celebration arbitrarily denied tickets to senior and veteran leaders like Amrik Singh Dhillon, Jagmohan Singh Kang, Ajaib Singh Bhatti and Kewal Singh Dhillon was one more deadly mistake by the Congress management.

    “It was strange and surprising that the party looked like it was in a race with itself in repeating one blunder after another to cause its own doom,” he stated.

    The three-time former MLA from Mohali identified that simply earlier than the appointment of Navjot Singh Sidhu because the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, everybody was of the unanimous view that the Congress will repeat itself in 2022.

    “But the countdown for doom started the day Navjot Sidhu took over as the PCC president”, he stated, including that the celebration made no efforts to reign him in.

    Balbir Sidhu stated the way in which the Punjab Congress chief and the chief minister indulged in open disagreement, placing the celebration in a state of “civil war”, left the sphere vast open for the opposition.

    “People got fed up with this civil war and they decided to teach us a lesson,” he stated.

    Besides, Balbir Sidhu stated, “The language used by Navjot Sidhu and Channi during the campaign antagonised a large section of the electorate.”

    While Navjot Sidhu allegedly addressed former minister Anil Joshi as a “kaala Brahmin”, Channi allegedly used derogatory language in opposition to the migrant inhabitants.

    This antagonised sure communities and so they voted in opposition to the Congress not solely in Punjab, but additionally in Uttar Pradesh, he stated.

    The former minister stated as an alternative of proudly owning up accountability, these accountable have been “shamelessly” glorifying themselves as if that they had received “Param Vir Chakra”.

    He stated these answerable for the debacle should be made accountable, lest the Congress acquired “destroyed beyond redemption”.

    The Aam Aadmi Party romped house with 92 of the 117 meeting seats by decimating the Congress and the SAD-BSP mix.

  • ‘Will proceed to carry out my obligation within the faculty’: Mother of AAP MLA who defeated Channi

    By ANI

    BARNALA: The mom of Aam Admi Party MLA Labh Singh Ugoke, Baldev Kaur, on Saturday continued working as a sweeper within the authorities faculty, even after her son received the 2022 Assembly elections in Punjab.

    Ugoke, who defeated the outgoing Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi from the Bhadaur seat with a margin of 37,550 votes, used to work in a cell repairing store.

    “We have always worked hard to earn money. Irrespective of my son’s position, I will continue to perform my duty in the school,” stated Kaur.

    Joyed by the victory of her son as an AAP candidate whose get together image is a brush, Kaur stated ‘Jhadu’ is a crucial a part of my life.

    “Even though he contested against the Chief Minister of the state, we were always confident that my son would win,” she added.

    School Principle Amrit Pal Kaur advised ANI that Ugoke has studied in the identical faculty and introduced many laurels.

    “Labh Singh’s mother has been working as a sweeper in this school for a long time now. He has also studied in this school. He has brought many laurels to his village and school. Kaur says she wants to continue working in the school,” stated Amrit Pal Kaur.

    Singh’s father, Darshan Singh, who used to work as a labourer, stated that the household will dwell as earlier. He needs his son to concentrate on the welfare of the folks as a substitute of the household.

    “People of the village elected him. We want him to be working for the welfare of the people. We will continue to live the way we used to earlier,” stated Darshan Singh.

    Ugoke joined the AAP in 2013 and rose within the ranks of the get together shortly. He had sought AAP’s ticket from Bhadaur seat in 2017 too however the get together had then determined in any other case.

    Villagers have been joyed by his victory, saying that they nonetheless cannot consider that Ugoke they knew for therefore lengthy has grow to be an MLA now.

    “For day and night, he used to work for the party. We never thought that he would get the ticket from the party and would become an MLA. We are happy for him,” stated one of many villagers.

    The AAP bagged a landslide victory within the Punjab polls, successful 92 Assembly seats, pushing most of its rivals to the margins. Congress received 18 seats within the 117-member Assembly.

  • Charanjit Channi: Star for 111 days, Dalit chief now again to humdrum politics

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Till some months in the past, Charanjit Singh Channi was simply one other minister in Amarinder Singh’s Congress authorities.

    And when the get together determined to switch the veteran chief because the chief minister in Punjab, Channi wasn’t even within the record of apparent front-runners.

    But after the Congress made the shock determination, Channi took to his new function as CM with enthusiasm, asserting sops, that includes in full-page newspaper commercials and even collaborating in a recreation of hockey.

    Though Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu, who performed a significant function in Amarinder Singh’s ouster, continued along with his pitch to be declared the get together CM’s face because the meeting polls neared, the Congress picked Channi.

    His credentials as Punjab’s first Dalit CM appeared to assist.

    Over 30 per cent of the state’s inhabitants is Dalit.

    The Congress fielded Channi from two seats — Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar and Bhadaur in Barnala, a transfer which confirmed how a lot the Congress was banking on him.

    He misplaced from each, and the get together obtained a drubbing from the Aam Aadmi Party.

    Channi, who appeared to return from nowhere to centre stage for about 4 months, is now headed again to relative obscurity.

    Born in Bhajauli village in Kharar in 1963, Channi’s stepped into politics in 1992 when he was elected a councillor.

    In 2003, he grew to become the president of the Kharar municipal council.

    He made it to the state meeting as an impartial MLA from Chamkaur Sahib in 2007.

    He gained the identical seat in 2012, however this time on a Congress ticket.

    He later grew to become Leader of Opposition within the House.

    After being elected as an MLA for the third time in a row in 2017, he discovered a berth in Amarinder Singh’s ministry.

    He held the portfolios of Technical Education, Industrial Training, Employment Generation and Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

    When Congress confronted infighting within the state final 12 months, Channi and three different ministers rebelled towards Amarinder Singh, selecting to aspect with state unit president Navjot Singh Sidhu.

    Channi by no means missed an opportunity to spotlight his “humble background”, however there may be nothing humble about his training.

    He has a BA diploma, adopted by an LLB from Panjab University and an MBA from Punjab Technical University.

    He is now going for a PhD from PU Chandigarh.

    As a minister within the Amarinder Singh authorities, Channi was on the centre of a row in 2018.

    An IAS officer accused him of sending an inappropriate textual content message to her.

    Channi advised the media that he despatched the message unintentially, and had apologised to the official.

    Controversy dogged him in the course of the latest election marketing campaign as properly.

    The Enforcement Directorate raided his nephew’s premises.

    Channi categorically denied any hyperlink in his relative’s case and his get together accused the BJP-led Centre of misusing the company.

    And then there was the safety breach which compelled Prime Minister Narendra Modi to return to Delhi with out addressing a political rally in Ferozepur, after his convoy was blocked by protesting farmers.

    The Centre put the blame on the state authorities headed by Channi.

    He got here below fireplace for his ‘UP de bhaiye’ comment, seen by many as a derogatory reference to migrants from different states.

    Before the elections had been declared, Channi had been a CM for 111 days – a time period marked by populist bulletins because the state headed into the elections.

    These included the slashing of energy tariff and making cable television, and even sand, cheaper.

    He projected himself as a politician who may determine with the lots.

    ‘Ghar ghar chali gal, Channi karda masle hal,’ was a catchphrase coined by him.

    Roughly translated, it means, ‘It’s the discuss of the city — Channi solves issues.’

    His rivals claimed it was all simply discuss.

    But Channi as soon as mentioned, “I am not ‘ailaanjeet’ (one who only makes announcements). I am ‘Vishwasjeet’ (one who has won the people’s trust).”

    Not sufficient, it will appear for the Congress to make a mark within the election.

  • AAP emerges as various in nationwide politics with its Punjab victory

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With its landslide victory in Punjab meeting polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has achieved a significant milestone in its journey thus far and emerged as a substitute within the nationwide politics.

    The celebration received 92 seats in Punjab, decimating its closest rival Congress to type its authorities within the state with a three-fourth majority within the 117-member legislative meeting.

    The robust AAP wave in Punjab noticed many bigwigs trailing and dropping — together with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Congress chief and Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi from each the seats he contested, Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur, former chief minister Amarinder Singh who left the Congress to hitch fingers with the BJP, and Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu.

    The celebration additionally gained some toe maintain in Goa successful two seats within the 40-member state legislative meeting, although it couldn’t open its account in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

    The AAP had contested on all seats in Punjab, Goa, Uttarkhand and Uttar Pradesh meeting polls, searching for to develop its base past Delhi and obtain its acknowledged ambition to turn out to be a dominant pressure in nationwide politics.

    Buoyed by its efficiency in Punjab meeting polls, the celebration is now aiming to develop its base in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

    The celebration will contest the meeting elections in these two states to beheld subsequent 12 months.

    With give attention to Gujarat, celebration plans to carry Punjab victory march in BJP-ruled Gujarat, AAP sources stated.

    Born out of 2011 anti-corruption motion led by Anna Hazare, the celebration seems to play a significant position within the nationwide politics following its emphatic victory in Punjab meeting polls, with the AAP leaders projecting the celebration’s nationwide convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as an alternative choice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    The political observers feels that the meteoric rise of the AAP inside a decade of its formation will reinforce its standing as a challenger to the Congress and the BJP in coming months, supplied it lives as much as the expectations of individuals of Punjab, present a clear authorities within the state, and fulfil the guarantees that it made throughout elections.

    The celebration’s assist to the farmers’ agitation towards three-farm legal guidelines final 12 months, its Delhi mannequin of governance and inner feud in Congress in Punjab led to its victory in Punjab, in line with the ballot analysts.

    “With its victory in Punjab, the AAP has become the only regional party and third party in the country which will have its government in two states. Other two are the BJP and the Congress,” famous political analyst and co-director of Lokniti-CSDS Sanjay Kumar instructed PTI when requested for his feedback.

    The AAP will turn out to be seen to the voters as a substitute with the celebration additionally gaining a toehold in Goa, he stated.

    “In coming days, party will start seeing the party as an alternative if it provides a clean government in Punjab and make a visible impact with its work as it did in Delhi,” he added.

    The individuals of Punjab have given their mandate to AAP and voted for change, wanting on the work executed by its authorities in Delhi, notably in schooling and healthcare sectors, Kumar stated.

    “While the Congress couldn’t achieve religion of the individuals attributable to inner feud within the celebration, Akalis (SAD) additionally couldn’t appeal to the electors as they’d not executed something particular throughout its regime in previous.

    In such a scenario, the AAP was seen as a substitute and folks determined to offer it an opportunity,” he added.

    Kejriwal and others shaped the AAP in 2012, making an exit from the 2011 anti-corruption motion following variations with Anna Hazare and made its debut in electoral politics successful 28 out of 70 seats in Delhi Assembly, and shaped its authorities below Chief Minister Kejriwal with outdoors assist of the Congress in December 2013.

    After failing to go the Jan Lokpal Bill attributable to lack of numbers within the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal resigned as chief minister in February 2014 to hunt a recent and full mandate.

    Before the re-election in Delhi could possibly be held, the AAP contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and received 4 seats — all from Punjab.

    The celebration recorded a landslide victory in 2015 Delhi meeting polls successful 67 out of a complete 70 seats, with a file vote share of 54 per cent and shaped its authorities.

    The AAP created a historical past as soon as once more by successful 62 out of 70 seats in 2020 Delhi meeting polls.

  • Punjab polls: CM Charanjit Singh Channi, over half of his ministers lose

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and over half of his ministers have misplaced from the seats they have been contesting because the AAP stormed to energy in Punjab on Thursday with an awesome majority.

    The Aam Aadmi Party scripted historical past by profitable 92 of the 117 meeting seats whereas the ruling Congress suffered a extreme drubbing.

    Channi, who contested from Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district and Bhadaur in Barnala, misplaced from each the seats to AAP candidates.

    Channi was the sitting MLA from Chamkaur Sahib.

    He had succeeded Amarinder Singh after his unceremonious exit because the chief minister in September final 12 months.

    While minister O P Soni was defeated by AAP’s Ajay Gupta from Amritsar Central, Raj Kumar Verka misplaced to AAP’s Jasbir Singh Sandhu from Amritsar West.

    Manpreet Singh Badal suffered a crushing defeat by the hands of AAP’s Jagroop Gill from Bathinda Urban seat.

    From Sangrur, Vijay Inder Singla misplaced to AAP’s Narinder Kaur Bharaj whereas Bharat Bhushan Ashu misplaced to AAP’s Gurpreet Bassi Gogi from Ludhiana West.

    Randeep Singh Nabha and Gurkirat Singh Kotli misplaced from Amloh and Khanna seats whereas Razia Sultana was defeated by AAP’s Mohammed Jamil-ur-Rahman from Malerkotla.

    Sangat Singh Gilzian was defeated by AAP’s Jasvir Singh Raja Gill from Urmar seat.

    However, seven Congress ministers managed to win.

    They are Rana Gurjeet Singh, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Aruna Chaudhary, Pargat Singh, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.

  • Several turncoats, Cabinet ministers trailing in Punjab as AAP sweeps state

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Several social gathering hoppers together with Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Fateh Jang Singh Bajwa and Anil Joshi had been trailing from their respective constituencies in Punjab, in response to ballot developments.

    The Aam Aadmi Party was main in 89 out of whole 117 meeting seats in Punjab.

    Ahead of the meeting polls, a number of leaders had switched sides.

    Former sports activities minister Sodhi had give up the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and contested from Ferozepur City seat.

    Sodhi, a four-time MLA from Guruharsahai in Ferozepur, was trailing from Ferozepur seat, the developments confirmed.

    AAP candidate Ranbir Singh was main from Ferozepur City over his nearest rival and Congress candidate Parminder Singh Pinki.

    Former Congress chief Bajwa, who had joined the BJP, and fought from Batala seat was trailing.

    Aam Aadmi Party candidate Amansher Singh is main from Batala seat over his nearest rival and Congress candidate Ashwani Sekhri, in response to developments.

    Fateh Jang Bajwa was a sitting legislator from Qadian seat from the place the Congress fielded his elder brother and Rajya Sabha member Partap Singh Bajwa.

    Former Punjab minister Joshi, who give up the BJP and joined the SAD final yr, contested from Amritsar North meeting seat.

    AAP candidate and former IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh was main over Joshi from Amritsar North seat.

    Joshi had remained legislator from the Amritsar North seat in 2007 and 2012 on the BJP ticket.

    He confronted defeat within the 2017 Assembly polls.

    Former Congress chief Harjot Kamal, who too had joined the BJP, fought from Moga meeting seat.

    Kamal left the Congress after the social gathering denied him the ticket from Moga.

    From Moga seat, AAP candidate Amandeep Kaur Arora was main over her nearest rival and Congress candidate Malvika Sood Sachar, who’s sister of actor Sonu Sood.

    Former Punjab minister and three-time MLA Joginder Singh Mann, who joined the AAP after snapping his 50-year-old ties with the Congress, fought from Phagwara seat.

    However, Congress candidate Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal was main over BSP nominee Jasvir Singh Garhi from Phagwara seat.

    Sukhjinder Raj Singh Lali Majithia, who joined the AAP after leaving the Congress, tried his luck from Majitha meeting phase.

    SAD candidate Ganieve Kaur Majithia is main from Majithia meeting phase.

    Raman Bahl, who left the Congress final yr and joined the AAP, fought from Gurdaspur seat.

    SAD candidate Gurbachan Singh Babehali was main over Congress candidate and sitting MLA Barindermeet Singh Pahra from Gurdaspur seat.

    Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and most of his Council of Ministers had been trailing of their respective constituencies, as per the developments at 12 pm.

    Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who contested from two constituencies, Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district and Bhadaur seat in Barnala, is trailing in each because the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates are main the race.

    Channi is the sitting MLA from Chamkaur Sahib.

    Most of Channi’s ministers, who had succeeded Amarinder Singh after his unceremonious exit because the chief minister in September final yr, had been additionally trailing.

    From Amritsar Central seat, Minister O P Soni was trailing behind AAP’s Ajay Gupta whereas Raj Kumar Verka was behind AAP’s Jasbir Singh Sandhu from Amritsar West.

    Manpreet Singh Badal was behind AAP’s Jagroop Gill from Bathinda Urban seat whereas from Gidderbaha, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring was trailing behind Akali Dal’s Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon.

    From Sangrur, Vijay Inder Singla was trailing behind AAP’s Narinder Kaur Bharaj.

    Pargat Singh was trailing behind AAP’s Surinder Singh Sodhi from Jalandhar Cantonment and Bharat Bhushan Ashu was behind AAP’s Gurpreet Bassi Gogi from Ludhiana West.

    Razia Sultana was behind her nearest AAP rival Mohammed Jamil-ur-Rahman from Malerkotla seat.

    Sangat Singh Gilzian was trailing behind AAP’s Jasvir Singh Raja Gill from Urmar seat.

    Ministers Rana Gurjeet Singh, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa had been main.

    As per the developments at 12:15 pm, the Aam Aadmi Party gave the impression to be heading for a clear sweep in Punjab, having taken a lead in 90 of the 117-Assembly seats.

  • BJP exudes confidence about forming authorities in 4 states, spectacular beneficial properties in Punjab

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Top BJP leaders on Saturday exuded confidence that the get together will type the federal government in 4 states the place it was in energy, together with in Uttar Pradesh, and it’ll make spectacular beneficial properties in Punjab.

    Addressing a joint press convention right here, BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated the get together will get a large majority in Uttar Pradesh and people hoping for any dilution within the get together’s mandate could be disillusioned.

    “People will give BJP a good majority in four states where it is in power,” Nadda stated.

    Underlining that the get together ran a scientific and well-organised marketing campaign, Shah stated, “We saw Prime Minister Modi’s popularity in five poll-bound states was more than that of any earlier prime minister.”

    Shah stated he’s assured that BJP will return to energy in 4 states — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, and make spectacular beneficial properties in Punjab.

    In Uttar Pradesh, Shah stated, BJP will get a large majority.

    He additional stated that some leaders might need left the get together, however not the voters.

  • Feud in Punjab Congress: Amarinder to fulfill Sonia on Tuesday

    Amid a simmering feud within the Punjab Congress, state Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is lastly set to fulfill AICC interim president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, sources stated.
    Amarinder had sought time from Sonia a number of days in the past when he had gone to New Delhi to look earlier than the the occasion’s three-member committee on Punjab, led by Mallikarjun Kharge. However, he was not given an appointment.
    Now, it’s learnt, Sonia Gandhi has referred to as him for a gathering on Tuesday night. Amarinder will go away for Delhi on Tuesday morning, sources stated. It is unclear if Rahul Gandhi might be part of the assembly.

    The assembly holds significance because the Congress appears to be like for a solution to alter ex-minister Navjot Singh Sidhu within the occasion organisation or the state authorities.
    Sidhu had met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi just lately, and the excessive command was learnt to have labored out a formulation to resolve his rising feud with the Chief Minister. Amarinder’s assembly with Sonia is being seen as a one other step to kind out the dispute.

    Amarinder enjoys a great relationship with Sonia as he had been a detailed buddy of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
    Priyanka, alternatively, has been supporting Navjot Sidhu, regardless of his frequent criticism of the Chief Minister. Sidhu has opened a entrance in opposition to the CM ever because the authorities misplaced a case pertaining to Behbal Kalan firing within the High Court.

  • ‘In 2017, we began our journey… now we will create a khushhaal Punjab’: Raghav Chadha

    Delhi MLA and Punjab co-incharge of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Raghav Chadha, says that the get together is in search of a Chief Ministerial candidate for Punjab who places the state earlier than himself, particularly within the current prevailing political circumstances. In an in depth chat with The Indian Express, the AAP chief shares the roadmap of the get together for the 2022 Assembly polls.
    How completely different is the political ambiance for AAP in Punjab going into the 2022 meeting polls as in comparison with the 2017 polls?
    In 2017 AAP was starting its journey in Punjab. We are wiser, extra mature, now we perceive a lot better the soiled politics and the politics of collusion that each, the Akalis and the Congress play. We have additionally learnt find out how to make Punjab affluent. We have gained invaluable expertise on find out how to create a ‘Khushhaal Punjab’.
    In that case, this time round ,what are the main target areas on which you will method the voters?
    The get together will begin unveiling its marketing campaign very quickly. An in depth manifesto can even include the primary guarantees which we are going to make with the individuals of Punjab. As already indicated by (get together convenor and Delhi chief minister) Mr (Arvind) Kejriwal on the political rally in Bagha Purana, one of many key points goes to be electrical energy promise. You have a state of affairs in Punjab the place you don’t get electrical energy, the provision is erratic and also you get common and exorbitant payments. The situation is just like what was in 2013 in Delhi when AAP got here to energy there. Within a number of weeks the AAP authorities was capable of remodel the facility sector and now we’re giving electrical energy 24X7 and freed from price.
    In 2017 there had been considerations over the route that the get together was taking with regard to hardliner parts within the state in run as much as the elections. What is being accomplished to allay these considerations?
    If there have been sure considerations then the AAP will tackle these. If there have been sure misconceptions, then these can even be addressed and handled. AAP stands for prosperity of Punjab. As someone who has been a founding member of the get together and who has been integral a part of the get together from previous to when it was shaped, I can inform you that AAP stands for prosperity, peace and concord. It will eternally be our endeavour to advertise brotherhood, peace and communal concord within the nation and Punjab.
    You have been spending lot of time within the state now. What is your notion of the 2022 polls?
    One factor constant throughout Punjab is that individuals stand disenchanted with the Akalis and the Congress. They really don’t contemplate them as two separate events. They contemplate them as one drive and that these two work in cahoots with one another and so they have colluded to loot and rob Punjab. They take a look at AAP as a substitute which provides them a ray of hope. Even individuals who have been sceptical of AAP say that we’ve tried different events and now we are going to go for AAP. These are the issues I hearken to once I journey the size and breadth of Punjab.
    So will this assist you see translate into good candidates for the get together? Have you began in search of higher high quality candidates?
    Candidate choice is a course of which is able to begin and conclude nearer to the elections. We are nonetheless seven to eight months away. However, so far as organisation constructing is anxious, a really strong organisation has been constructed over previous few months. I don’t solely imply state, district and halka incharges.
    I imply even in villages. Now I can decide up any village and say that I’ve strong organisation there with 100 members, 80 lively employees and so on. From an organisational standpoint we at the moment are at a place to outdo and outmatch any political get together in Punjab.
    The greatest query on minds of individuals of Punjab is that who would be the Chief Ministerial candidate of AAP? Can you reply that?
    Elections are fought on campaigns, guarantees and credibility. Every political get together has its personal technique. Last elections, the technique was to not announce a candidate. We had a presidium of leaders. We nonetheless have a presidium of leaders however the technique has been revised and we are going to announce a CM face. Baraat bhi dikhayenge, Dulha bhi dikhayenge aur Dulha dikha kar chunaav ladenge. The single most vital standards when one seems on the future CM is that the person has to provide priority to the prosperity of Punjab and to not his or her private ambition. Someone who represents Punjab and someone who will dedicate himself to welfare of Punjab.
    What is your tackle the latest desertions from AAP whereby a number of leaders have joined Congress?
    I might not need to waste my breath on talking on opportunists. People who win elections on one get together image, battle one other election on one other get together image after which be a part of one more get together. These individuals are opportunists and no time must be wasted on them.
    Congress authorities has introduced a slew of welfare measures together with jobs in authorities service, pay fee implementation and SC scholarships. The Akalis have joined arms with BSP. Doesn’t it skew the recognition of their favour?
    The anti-dalit mindset of the Captain Amarinder Singh-led authorities stands uncovered by the actual fact that the Post-matric SC Scholarship scheme, which impacts the lives of two lakh dalit households, was withheld and maybe illegally routed and a monetary rip-off was orchestrated. AAP legislators needed to sit on an indefinite quick to make sure that the federal government releases the cash and we managed to do this yesterday. No stage or measure of symbolism can now wash away the sins of the federal government. As far as illustration of dalits is anxious, the Leader of Opposition in AAP is a dalit, the Deputy Leader of Opposition is a dalit and a girl. These are the one two positions {that a} political get together in opposition has constitutionally. On the opposite hand you could have the Akalis, who by their very own acknowledgement, are missing assist among the many dalit neighborhood and needed to borrow assist of a dalit get together. This is the state in Punjab the place one get together is anti-dalit and different perceives it’s not the selection of dalits.

    What about illustration to girls in get together and in preventing elections? That can also be a serious difficulty as not sufficient illustration is given by political events to them in Punjab.
    Absolutely. That is an important difficulty and one thing very near my coronary heart as I contemplate myself a feminist. Our Deputy Leader of Opposition is a girl. The solely few girls that you just see within the Assembly are from AAP. So that has been our endeavour and we are going to work in the direction of bringing an increasing number of girls to state politics.
    How do you see the farmers motion impacting the elections?
    I don’t take a look at farmers’ agitation from a political prism. This is a clear agitation away from politics. But as a result of the choice makers are members of political events and so politics does creep in. The manner I take a look at it’s that each one three events – BJP, Akalis and Congress – stand discredited within the eyes of the Indian farmer. BJP as a result of they engineered the payments, Congress as a result of Captain sahib is the daddy of the invoice as he was a part of the panel which thought of the laws, and Akalis are the mom of invoice as a result of their senior chief was member of the cabinet when the legislations had been being drafted, cleared and even later. It was solely after the farmers protested that she (former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal) resigned. The solely get together, which has supported farmers is AAP whether or not by protests on streets, tearing of payments in Assembly by Arvind Kejriwal or by disrupting the session of Rajya Sabha when the invoice was being handed undermining parliamentary practices. We have additionally helped the farmers in no matter manner we might on the Delhi borders with langar, water and so on as ‘nishkaam sewa’.

    Do you see infighting in Congress as a chance?
    The ruling get together is in a shambles and whereas different political events would have wished to dent the Congress for electoral features, the get together has self destructed itself. There has been a whole organisational collapse in Congress as infighting just isn’t restricted to high management solely but additionally down the road until the final organisational stage. From a Punjab standpoint, there are eight CM aspirants in Congress preventing amongst themselves, together with Captain Amarinder. At a time when they need to be preventing in opposition to Covid and different ills in society, they’re preventing amongst themselves. It is a really unhappy state of affairs. The lust for energy has made these eight claimants blind.
    Are doorways nonetheless open for Navjot Singh Sidhu?
    …The door is open or not can solely be answered if the individual is standing on the door. If he’s on the door then I’ll reply that query. First you verify if he’s on the door or not.

  • Surveys to tickets, Punjab Congress leaders fall for Prashant Kishor imitators

    As if the infighting was not sufficient, the Congress is dealing with a brand new menace in Punjab: impersonators of political strategist Prashant Kishor duping partymen after promising beneficial surveys and ballot tickets for the state elections subsequent yr.
    On Tuesday, police in Ludhiana registered a case towards unidentified individuals for dialling social gathering leaders and asking them to publicly criticise the Chief Minister. It now seems that one other gang of Kishor impersonators was busted final month after it fleeced “at least 30-40 Congress leaders from Ludhiana, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Sangrur”.
    Police sources mentioned the gang duped Congressmen of Rs 5 crore at the very least. “The gang-members were caught while trying to dupe MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaid. He got suspicious when the impersonator asked for a gift to submit a survey report in his favour. The police laid a trap and two men were arrested from Jalandhar on May 11 and 13, respectively,” mentioned police sources.
    Officers recognized these arrested as Rakesh Kumar Bhasin and Rajat Kumar Raja, and the important thing impersonator, who was nabbed later, as Gaurav Sharma. All of them hail from Amritsar, they mentioned.
    “Sharma is a gambler who bets lakhs day-after-day. He has perfected Kishor’s model of talking after watching him on TV. He not solely duped leaders from Punjab but in addition Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana and West Bengal.
    There are instances registered towards the gang in different states however police weren’t in a position to pin them down,” a senior officer mentioned.
    Most of these duped by the gang weren’t keen to be recognized, and refused to file a proper police criticism. Police sources mentioned a number of leaders, together with MLAs, a former Mayor, and candidates within the earlier state elections, had been focused.
    When contacted, Vaid, who represents Gill in Ludhiana, mentioned he discovered the impersonator “very convincing”.
    “I had met Kishor earlier, including recently when he had met MLAs in Chandigarh to ask about feedback from constituencies. Still, the impersonator was so convincing that for a moment I thought it was Kishor on the line. He had done his homework, and was talking to me as if he had actually surveyed my constituency. I got several calls from him over a period of 4-5 days,” Vaid mentioned.
    “But then, the impersonator demanded Rs 10 lakh from me as a gift for two MLAs from other states who would conduct a survey and submit a report in my favour to make sure that I got a ticket. I became certain that this could not be Kishor. I spoke to my friends in the party and the police. I was told that there was a complaint from Sangrur, too, by Daman Thind Bajwa (a Congress candidate in 2017). We accompanied police to Jalandhar and the gang was arrested,” mentioned Vaid.
    In her police criticism, Bajwa mentioned she obtained suspicious when the imposter requested her to deposit Rs 7 lakh.
    In the most recent case, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Rakesh Aggarwal advised The Indian Express that he couldn’t reveal particulars of an ongoing investigation.
    Kishor was drafted by Amarinder Singh in January 2016 to advise the social gathering on technique for the 2017 elections. In March this yr, the Chief Minister appointed him as his principal advisor.

    Over the previous couple of months, Kishor performed a key position in serving to the TMC retain energy in West Bengal earlier than asserting that he needed to take a break from ballot administration. He didn’t reply to requests from The Indian Express looking for remark.
    The impersonators, in the meantime, have left the social gathering’s senior state management red-faced, particularly at a time when it’s scrambling to sort out widening fault traces inside the organisation.
    Just a few leaders, together with Navjot Singh Sidhu, have raised the banner of revolt towards the Chief Minister after the High Court put aside an SIT investigation into the incidents of firing at Behbal Kalan and Kot Kapura.

    AICC chief Sonia Gandhi has constituted a three-member committee, headed by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, to try to resolve the disaster.
    In the most recent incident of Kishor impersonators in Ludhiana, police have registered a case below a number of IPC sections, together with 420 (cheatring), and part 66-D of the IT Act towards unknown callers for “inciting leaders to criticise the CM”. The FIR was registered on a criticism by Inspector Amandeep Singh who cited a tip-off from an informer.