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Ludhiana | Day after AAProoting, traditional parties go into introspection mode
While SAD managed to register a win in Dakha constituency, Ludhiana, the two national parties – Congress and BJP – came a cropper. Adding insult to injury, greenhorns of the AAP, proved to be dark horses, defeating political giants in one fell swoop
A day after biting dust in the Punjab assembly polls, heavyweights of traditional political parties – Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiromani Akali Dal – went into a huddle to decipher the reasons for the people’s mandate turning against them.
While SAD managed to register a win in Dakha constituency, the two national parties – Congress and BJP – came a cropper. Adding insult to injury, greenhorns of the Aam Aadmi Party, proved to be dark horses, defeating political giants in one fell swoop.
Without mincing words, former district Congress committee president Pawan Dewan heaped the blame on Congress committee chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. “It must be probed whether motor-mouth Sidhu had forged a secret pact with the Opposition, and had therefore embarrassed the party.”
Dewan said that Sidhu’s relentless attack, first on Captain Amarinder Singh, the then chief minister, and thereafter on his successor, and chief ministerial candidate Charanjit Singh Channi weakened the party. “The voters were disenchanted with the squabbling within the party, and voted for AAP instead,” he said.
Though the AAP bowled over some big wickets of the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab , in Ludhiana district the party was the only traditional party to retain a seat, with Manpreet Singh Ayali of the SAD secured 49,909 votes from Dakha constituency winning by 5,807 votes.
SAD leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal said he had visited Bhatinda to meet party president Sukhbir Singh Badal to analyse the reason for the party’s loss.On whether severing ties with the BJP was a factor, the SAD leader said, “Breaking the alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hurt Congress more than SAD. Both BJP and SAD fielded their respective candidates and fought the elections aggressively, and both parties managed to consolidate their vote bank, due to which the votes did not fall in the Congress’ kitty,” he said.
“In 2017 , we had observed that due to the seat-sharing system with the BJP, SAD supporters had preferred voting for Congress, instead of voting for a BJP candidate. Besides, our party has done well in some segments, including Samrala and Khanna. In Jagraon and Gill constituency, SAD candidates have come second.
We gained lost ground: BJP
On the other hand, BJP leaders said the party had regained lost ground by fighting a lone battle. “Certainly, it is a time for introspection but at the same time we are pleased that the BJP managed to regain lost ground in the assembly polls. Our overall vote share has reached nearly 20% in six constituencies. In Ludhiana West, North, South and Central we performed fairly well. In Ludhiana North and Central our candidates gave a tough fight to the victors, and came in second. In Ludhiana West, we have managed to garner over 28,000 votes, which shows that the people believe in BJP and its model of development,” said Pushpinder Singhal.
In Ludhiana East and Atam Nagar, BJP candidates garnered 18,000 and 10,000 votes, respectively. Banking on the AAP to bungle, Pushpinder Singhal said, “BJPs increasing vote share has helped AAP register a win in some seats, “But we are not focusing on that aspect. We will keep on raising the issues of the common man, and will see whether AAP is able to fulfil its promises of giving ₹2,000 pension to women, free electricity and remuneration to unemployed youth. If they fail, we will hit the streets again,” said .
Congress’ proverbial ‘B Team’ weaves magic
Disparaged as turncoats, and opportunists, it was the Congress’ proverbial B-Team, comprising its overlooked foot soldiers, who upon taking brooms in their hands made a clean sweep in the Punjab assembly elections.
Leaders such as Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal, Kulwant Singh Sidhu, Gurpreet Singh Gogi, Madan Lal Bagga and Ashok Parashar Pappi, who have always played second fiddle to the heavy weights were able to dislodge stalwarts.
Perhaps, having a strong network on ground level proved handy, and they jumped ship on realising that the traditional parties were likely to drown in the assembly polls.
