Bhagwant Mann Says Change Will Be Visible In A Month In Punjab!
The Aam Aadmi Party’s “Broom” (Charu) swept Punjab clean with an astounding 92 seat majority on March 10, crushing Punjab Congress and decimating the Shiromani Akali Dal, who was left with a measly three seats with all of it’s major leaders sent to the trash can including party patriarch Prakash Singh Badal and his incompetent son Sukhbir Badal. “It’s a victory for the people. They have rejected established political leadership and voted for a better future,” Aam Aadmi Party’s CM candidate Bhagwant Mann said, adding he was overwhelmed with the tsunami that the party could create in Punjab, drowning political bigwigs. He promised to live up to people’s expectations and deliver on the promises made by the party. “These are not promises, but guarantees,” he stressed. The Aam Aadmi Party government will take oath on March 16.
By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Files
CHANDIGARH – The Aam Aadmi Party’s “Broom” (Charu) swept Punjab clean with an astounding 92 seat majority on March 10, crushing Punjab Congress and decimating the Shiromani Akali Dal, who was left with a measly three seats with all of it’s major leaders sent to the trash can including party patriarch Prakash Singh Badal and his incompetent son Sukhbir Badal.
The Aam Aadmi Party government will take oath on March 16.
It was said on Thursday that they would take oath at Khatkar Kalan, the native place of martyr Bhagat Singh.
AAP had swept the Assembly election results on Thursday bagging 92 seats out of 117 as angry Punjab voter punished feudal leaders with reigning Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, his 10 ministers biting the dust.
Punjab created history by wiping out the traditional political establishment and, for the first time, handing over the reins of the state to the Aam Aadmi Party. Till now, Punjab has been ruled alternately by the Congress or the Shiromani Akali Dal.
By giving an astounding victory to AAP, people of Punjab have apparently rejected the politics of caste, dera and religion. They have instead given the mandate to the pro-development agenda of AAP, which has promised good education, healthcare, employment and a conducive atmosphere for business and trade.
AAP has won 92 of the 117 Assembly seats — a massive jump from the 20 seats it acquired in the last state elections. The last time any party got such a decisive victory was in 1992, when the Congress had won 87 seats amidst a boycott by the SAD. The victory has also led to AAP claiming its arrival on the national political stage. Party incharge of Punjab affairs Raghav Chadha declared today that the party had become a national force and party supremo would be a principal challenger to PM Modi in times to come.
As expected, AAP emerged the strongest in the Malwa region, where it won 66 of the 69 seats. It was believed that the party wouldn’t have it easy in Doaba, but here too it won 10 of the 23 seats. In Majha, the party emerged victorious in 16 of the 25 seats, indicating that the AAP tsunami was across Punjab, sinking all political stalwarts. CM Charanjit Channi, 10 sitting ministers, five-time former CM Parkash Singh Badal, two-time former CM Capt Amarinder Singh, former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, all were swept away in the AAP wave. In Amritsar East contest, which was dubbed the “mother of all battles” between Sidhu and Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia, social worker and AAP candidate Jeevan Jyot Kaur turned out to be a “giant slayer”.
The Congress, which had swept the 2017 poll by winning 77 seats, suffered a drubbing. It was reduced to just 18 seats, while the SAD won just three seats. This is the worst-ever performance of the over 100-year-old party and it could lead to questions over the leadership.
The BJP won two seats, the BSP got one seat (Nawanshahr), which is not reserved, while one seat (Sultanpur Lodhi) has been won by Independent Rana Inder Partap Singh.
The BSP, which fought the elections in alliance with the SAD, had contested on 20 seats. Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, a political front formed by farmers’ unions, failed to even open its account. SSM CM face Balbir Singh Rajewal, who contested from Samrala constituency, ranked sixth among 14 candidates.
“It’s a victory for the people. They have rejected established political leadership and voted for a better future,” Aam Aadmi Party’s CM candidate Bhagwant Mann told The Tribune.
He said he was overwhelmed with the tsunami that the party could create in Punjab, drowning political bigwigs. He promised to live up to people’s expectations and deliver on the promises made by the party. “These are not promises, but guarantees,” he stressed.
Mann, who was in Sangrur, said there was a huge crowd outside his house and that he was moved by their love and the hope he saw in their eyes.
“I am indebted to the people of the state for reposing faith in the development-oriented agenda spelt out by our party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal.”
He said the voters had rejected those who symbolise “all corrupt practices that are associated with power.” Mann, who shot to fame as a political satirist, has been an MP from Sangrur for two terms now. This election is as much a personal victory for him as for the party as people have largely voted for him as the CM. In many constituencies, party candidates were not very known faces and people voted for a government under the leadership of Kejriwal and Mann.
After the historic victory in Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, flanked by his mother Harpal Kaur and sister Manpreet Kaur, addressed the people outside his house in Sangrur. Thanking them, he said, “You have fulfilled your responsibility very well, now it is my turn to fulfil my responsibility.”
He assured people that change would be visible in a month, and that AAP would bring governance to people’s doorstep. Mann said, “Opposition parties abused us and tried to defame us, but we have forgiven everyone, provided they start respecting the 3.5 crore Punjabis now.”
“Those who did not vote for us need not have any kind of doubt or fear. I am their CM too. I have the same love and empathy towards everyone. We will work for the betterment of all,” he said.
I will start working towards eradicating unemployment from Day 1. We are committed to creating adequate job opportunities. Instead of pictures of leaders, those of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and BR Ambedkar will be seen at govt offices.