Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday defended the candidature of independent candidate Manpreet Singh from the high- stake Bathinda parliamentary segment where Badal’s daughter-in-law Harsimrat Kaur and People’s Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Badal are in the poll fray.
When asked why such tactics were being used by them to defeat Congress-PPP alliance candidate Manpreet Badal, the chief minister, who was in Jalandhar to address a rally in favour of SAD candidate Pawan Kumar Tinu, denied his party’s involvement in the matter.
“Our law permits every citizen to contest the polls. Every Manpreet can contest the polls as per his wish. What SAD has to do with it? We don’t believe in such tactics,” said Badal.
ON ‘KITE’ CONTROVERSY
About the alleged controversial role of the deputy commissioner-cum-returning officer (RO) from Bathinda seat as how he allowed the independent candidate to add ‘Badal’ as suffix to his name and thereafter allotted him “kite” as symbol that was the symbol of Manpreet’s PPP, the chief minister ducked the question saying he was not properly aware of the issue.
“I am busy addressing rallies across the state. I have read about this in newspapers only. I think allotment of “kite” symbol was done on the basis of draw of lots between two independents. Moreover, when Manpreet left his symbol and decided to contest on the Congress symbol, somebody had to use it,” Badal said.
{{/usCountry}}“I am busy addressing rallies across the state. I have read about this in newspapers only. I think allotment of “kite” symbol was done on the basis of draw of lots between two independents. Moreover, when Manpreet left his symbol and decided to contest on the Congress symbol, somebody had to use it,” Badal said.
{{/usCountry}}“Tomorrow when Manpreet gets defeated, the media and our opponents will say fielding Manpreet from the Congress ticket was also our plan,”he said.