Amid uncertainty over Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP’s) chief ministerial face if it wins the Punjab polls, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann on Sunday emerged as the tallest leader at the thanksgiving meet of volunteers held in Nakodar on Sunday, thus putting him ahead of others in the race for the top post.
In the show that was attended by office-bearers and all candidates of the party, besides Punjab affairs in-charge Sanjay Singh and party’s organisation-building head Durgesh Pathak, Mann agreeably was the tallest son-of-the-soil leader on the stage. Sanjay, who spoke just ahead of Mann, termed the MP as the “Hero of Punjab” and said his contribution to “the victory of the party” was the biggest.
“Mann on an average addressed 10 poll rallies daily and response was unparalleled . Punjab ko bachane main inkaa yogdaan sabse zyada hai (His contribution in saving Punjab is the biggest),” said Sanjay, followed by a thunderous applause.
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The meet was addressed by Jarnail Singh, followed by Kanwar Sandhu, Durgesh Pathak, HS Phoolka, Faridkot MP Sadhu Singh Singh, state party chief Gurpreet Ghuggi, Sanjay SIngh and Mann. Durgesh too heaped praises on Mann. Mann urged the candidates to keep promises made to the people. “People of Punjab have kept CDs of my rallies in which we have made many promises. We will have to keep all promises otherwise people will throw stones at me,” he said. “We will run the government under the guidance of Kejriwal.”
{{/usCountry}}The meet was addressed by Jarnail Singh, followed by Kanwar Sandhu, Durgesh Pathak, HS Phoolka, Faridkot MP Sadhu Singh Singh, state party chief Gurpreet Ghuggi, Sanjay SIngh and Mann. Durgesh too heaped praises on Mann. Mann urged the candidates to keep promises made to the people. “People of Punjab have kept CDs of my rallies in which we have made many promises. We will have to keep all promises otherwise people will throw stones at me,” he said. “We will run the government under the guidance of Kejriwal.”
{{/usCountry}}Sandhu cautions party on CM choice
In his address, journalist-turned-politician Kanwar Sandhu cautioned the party on choice of chief minister, saying mistakes in ticket distribution should not be repeated after victory. “Punjab CM’s post is like ‘riding a lion’. Both mind and words needed to be in consonant with each other to run this sensitive state. A coterie should not run the government,” he said.
Volunteers already in celebration mode
Even as the results of the Punjab polls will be out on March 11, the AAP leaders and volunteers meet looked in celebration mode as they talked about “government formation” at the meet.
In his speech, Durgesh asked the volunteers to give details of drug addicts in their respective villagers within seven days after forming the government. “Since AAP government will stop drug supply within 24 hours of forming the government, we should have the data of addicts in the state so that they can be moved to de-addiction centres,” he said. He also distributed a form to be filled in this regard. Phoolka also distributed a form to all candidates to give details of number of vacant posts at drug de-addiction centres of the state.
The AAP leaders announced to meet Punjab governor on Monday in order to speed up the application for the Credit Clearance Limit (CCL) for the wheat procurement scheduled to start on April 1. “There has been a deliberate delay in this regard on the government part to create hurdles for the next government,” Sanjay said.