Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday admitted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could make it a triangular contest on some assembly seats in the state, but he hastened to add that the fledgling party posed no threat to the Akali-BJP alliance or the Congress in the 2017 elections.
“The AAP can put up a fight on some seats, especially in Malwa. But the main battle will be between the Akali-BJP combine and the Congress. AAP is getting media coverage because it’s a new party,” Sukhbir said while interacting with reporters after flagging off a pilgrimage train to Varanasi.
He said the people supporting AAP were ill-informed about the party. “See what they have done in Delhi. They have not fulfilled even a single promise made before the elections. Their only aim is to promote Arvind Kejriwal. They are spending Rs 532 crore on his advertisements from the government’s coffers,” the deputy CM said.
He added that the AAP government was paying Rs 2 lakh per month to MLAs as salary.
“Of the 67 MLAs they have in Delhi, more than 60 are holding posts such as parliamentary secretaries and chairpersons of various boards. The Lokpal promised by AAP is also no less than a joke, and the new bill says the Lokpal will work under the chief minister’s office. Their entire politics is based on fraud,” Sukhbir added.
{{/usCountry}}“Of the 67 MLAs they have in Delhi, more than 60 are holding posts such as parliamentary secretaries and chairpersons of various boards. The Lokpal promised by AAP is also no less than a joke, and the new bill says the Lokpal will work under the chief minister’s office. Their entire politics is based on fraud,” Sukhbir added.
{{/usCountry}}On Manpreet Singh Badal’s entry into the Congress, he said it would not make any impact on the Congress’ prospects in Punjab as the former finance minister had already been exposed and was known for shifting stands like a pendulum.
Answering a question about the Panama boat tragedy, Sukhbir said the Punjab government had been assured by the Union external affairs ministry that all possible steps would be taken on the matter. He also directed the police department to immediately start a crackdown on illegal travel agents. He also appealed to media houses not to publish advertisements of unregistered travel agents.