Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan Friday congratulated Arvind Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party has registered a big win in the Punjab Assembly election and snatched the state from the ruling Congress. "Congratulations to my friend @ArvindKejriwal and Aam Aadmi party for their sweeping victory,” Kamal Haasan wrote on Twitter. He also applauded the AAP, which is in power in Delhi for a second consecutive term, and now will form the government in Punjab for the first time, for the impressive feat achieved within 10 years of its inception. “It is commendable that within ten years since its inception, the party has reigned victorious in another state, Punjab,” Kamal Hasaan wrote.
The ties between the two leaders go back a long way. In 2017 there was speculation Kejriwal was going to offer the AAP platform to Kamal Haasan to pursue his political career, days after the latter dropped hints of launching his own. The rumours were fueled by a meeting of the two leaders and the subsequent talk of Kejriwal wanting to take his party national. Moreover, Haasan, who floated his party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) in 2018, has on various occasions commended Kejriwal for the overall development of Delhi by his government.
The AAP managed a massive mandate in Punjab by winning 92 seats in the 117-member assembly, leaving the ruling Congress with only 18 seats. The AAP sweep decimated the SAD-BSP combine as well. While the Shiromani Akali Dal got three seats, the BSP got just one. The BJP, which tied up with former chief minister Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress, got just two.
With this, the AAP is all set to form the government in Punjab under the leadership of former comedian Bhagwant Mann. Several stalwarts like outgoing chief minister Charanjit Channi, Akali leaders Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, and Amarinder Singh were defeated. Channi lost both seats he contested.
{{/usCountry}}With this, the AAP is all set to form the government in Punjab under the leadership of former comedian Bhagwant Mann. Several stalwarts like outgoing chief minister Charanjit Channi, Akali leaders Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, and Amarinder Singh were defeated. Channi lost both seats he contested.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier today Channi submitted his resignation to Governor Banwarilal Purohit following his party's defeat in the Assembly poll. "After calling the cabinet, we recommended the dissolution of the 15th Vidhan Sabha to the governor," Channi told reporters.
"I have tendered my resignation to the governor," said Channi, who went to the Raj Bhawan to hand over his resignation a day after the election results.
"We accept the verdict of people. We will continue to serve them," he said.