Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday held a roadshow in the Sangrur parliamentary constituency harping on the “successful” Delhi model of governance.
Standing atop an open vehicle, Mr. Kejriwal sought vote and support for party candidate Bhagwant Mann, who is seeking re-election from Sangrur. During his day-long roadshow through Khanauri-Moonak-Lehragaga-Sunam-Cheema-Longowal-Dhanaula-Barnal areas, the AAP leader was seen striving to convince people about his government’s good governance in Delhi besides hitting out at the ruling Congress government in Punjab, accusing it of backing out on its Assembly poll promises.
“Capt. Amarinder Singh promised you jobs, smart phones, complete loan waiver, increase of old age pension to ₹2,500 per month but has failed to deliver...We on the other hand in Delhi are fulfilling our election promises. You must have heard that in Delhi, schools and hospitals have improved. If you want to improve quality of life vote for AAP,” said Mr. Kejriwal.
“The Congress and the BJP are only befooling people as they don’t have any interest in working for the welfare of the public,” he added.
As the roadshow cruised through Khanauri, a group of people also raised black flags and shouted slogans against him for allegedly “defaming” Punjab on the issue of drugs. The police cleared the protesters.
Mr. Kejriwal also tried to strike a cord with Sikhs by claiming that it was due to the efforts of Mr. Mann that for the first time in Parliament tribute was paid to the martyrdom of Chhote Sahibzaade (younger son) of Guru Gobind Singh.
“Neither the Congress nor the Shiromani Akali Dal in the last 72 years of independent India had been able to do this. It was due to your MP’s [Bhagwant Mann] effort that tribute was paid to Chhote Sahibzaade. And, now every year this will continue,” said Mr. Kejriwal.
As the roadshow reached Lehragaga, 33-year-old Beant Singh, a vegetable vendor, felt that while the party does not have the kind of wave it had during the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, yet the sitting MP has an edge over his competitors owing to his “personal touch'” with the public.
At Moonak, Aman Kumar, who runs an electronic repair shop, also believes that the way the sitting MP has been in touch with the locals in his constituency, could benefit him in the upcoming election. “Also, the ruling Congress government has failed to keep its promises...I am still waiting for a smart phone...Akali Dal has also not done anything that I can trust them,” he says.
Deepak, who works with a leading mobile phone company at village Jakhal, says “while several development work in the village has been done by Shiromani Akali Dal’s Parminder Dhindsa as MLA, yet I somehow feel Bhagwant Mann is finding favour among people, will he win or not I can't say.”
Sangrur, which has predominantly seen electoral battle between the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress, in this election is witnessing a three-cornered fight. While AAP MP Bhagwant Mann is fighting to retain his seat, the Congress has fielded former MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon. Shiromani Akali’ Dal's Parminder Dhindsa, a five-time MLA and former Finance Minister in the previous SAD-BJP government is also in the fray. The Punjab Democratic Alliance has fielded singer and actor Jassi Jasraj as its candidate.