Nangal (Rupnagar), August 7 (Yes Punjab News)
Claiming that the growing public support for the Congress has rattled its political rivals in Punjab, AICC General Secretary and Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has begun exploring an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) after sensing the party’s increasing strength in the state.
Addressing the ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ programme at Nangal, Baghel said the BJP’s stand on contesting the Punjab Assembly elections independently had changed after witnessing the response Congress was receiving across the state.
Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent statement that the BJP would contest the Punjab elections on its own, Baghel said the party had now become “nervous” and initiated talks with the Akali Dal. He also cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, claiming it reflected the BJP’s renewed interest in reviving ties with its former ally.
Baghel maintained that not only the BJP and the Akalis but also the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had become anxious over the Congress resurgence. He said the people of Punjab were disillusioned with the AAP government and had already experienced both the Akali-BJP alliance and the present dispensation, leaving Congress as the only credible alternative capable of providing a stable and people-friendly government.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, while addressing the gathering, said he would be willing to contest against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann if the party decided so.
“If the party wishes, I would love to contest against Bhagwant Mann and make him realise the ground realities of Punjab,” Warring remarked.
Accusing the AAP government of diverting Punjab’s resources for political expansion in other states, Warring alleged that public money collected from Punjabis was being spent on elections and advertisements in Gujarat and Goa.
He claimed Punjab’s total debt had crossed Rs 4.5 lakh crore under the Bhagwant Mann government and alleged that despite the mounting borrowings, development within the state had suffered.
“We will not allow Punjab’s money to be used for AAP’s electoral ambitions in Gujarat and Goa,” he asserted.
Former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana K.P. Singh also addressed the event and expressed confidence that the Congress would return to power in the state.
“The writing is on the wall. No force on earth can stop the Congress from forming the next government in Punjab,” he said.
Several senior Congress leaders, including Ravi Dalvi, Suraj Thakur, Sukhminder Danny and Balbir Singh Sidhu, were present at the programme.
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