Team Anna has decided to support Independent candidates in all the 13 parliamentary constituencies in Punjab in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, members of the state unit of team Anna revealed that independents have been "almost identified" in four parliamentary constituencies, who have agreed to abide by the 17-point agenda formulated by social activist Anna Hazare.
"Though deliberations are going on in all Lok Sabha seats in this regard, talks with the prospective candidates in Anandpur Sahib, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur constituencies are almost over. All these candidates have clean image and vast experience of social work at the ground level," said Guruwant Singh, a local activist of Team Anna.
"Anna Hazare will also campaign for these Independents in due course of time. We are committed to promote honest candidates, having a clean image in the society. As all the political parties, except Trinamool Congress, have refused to sign on 17-point agenda, we are focusing on independent candidates," said Naveen Dardi, an acitivist from Ropar.
Meanwhile, Team Anna members attacked former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for "nullifying the momentum created by Anna Hazare through his nationwide movement."
The activists accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership of weakening Anna Hazare's revolutionary movement in the state. "We all have been associated with the movement since its inception. But Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are the two key elements who floated a separate party for their vested interests and backstabbed the common man," said Kunwar Ranjan Singh, an activist from Ludhiana.
"On March 16, we are going to organise a press conference at Anandpur Sahib to reveal the list of candidates we are supporting in Punjab," he added.
The activists accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership of weakening Anna Hazare's revolutionary movement in the state. "We all have been associated with the movement since its inception. But Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are the two key elements who floated a separate party for their vested interests and backstabbed the common man," said Kunwar Ranjan Singh, an activist from Ludhiana.
"On March 16, we are going to organise a press conference at Anandpur Sahib to reveal the list of candidates we are supporting in Punjab," he added.