CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) has announced to go alone in Lok Sabha election in Punjab after its talks for an alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal(Taksali) headed by former Akali Dal minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura reached a deadlock on the issue of fielding candidate from Anandour Sahib seat.
Bhagwant Mann state president of AAP told that SAD(Taksali) was not ready to change its candidate Bir Devinder Singh from Anandpur Sahib. AAP had announced the name of its candidate Narinder Singh Shergill three months back and it was not possible to withdraw his name at this stage. He said that AAP had offered Bathinda seat to SAD(Taksali) in lieu of Anandpur Sahib.
Mann said that AAP has five MLA from Bathinda Parliamentary seat and it is one of the safest seats. He said that AAP has strong cadre in Bathinda. He also blamed Punjabi Ekta Party(PEP) president Sukhpal Singh Khaira for announcing his name from Bathinda seat to divide AAP votes and help the SAD MP and Uni0on Minister Harsimrat Kaur who is likely to contest from Bathinda. Notably Khaira is rebel MLA of AAP and formed separate party after he was removed from the post of Leader if Opposition in Vidhan Sabha.
Mann said that AAP will contest all 13 seats and party volunteers will be given tickets. He said that AAP had 24 vote share in Punjab. They have won four Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and won 22 seats in 2017 assembly poll. In the 2014 Lok Sabha, AAP had majority in 33 segments. He said that AAP will increase its vote share in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He claimed that people of Punjab were fed up from Congress government due to unfulfilled promises. He said that Shiromani Akali Dal has lsot its vote bank in the Sikhs and farmers.
Mann said that he strongly opposed political alliance between AAP and Congress in Punjab and there is no possibility of shaking hands with Congress. He said that AAP would contest next assembly elections in 2022 against Congress and SAD- BJP alliance. He said that AAP was only hope of people after traditional parties failed to deliver. He alleged that drugs, illeal mining, crime, farmer suicides, transport mafia and unemployment were the issues on which Congress had won 2017 assembly poll. On ground there is no change. Drugs were sold more frequently, illegal mining was in rise, farmers are committing sucides, crime rate is higher than previous regime. The teachers and other employees of government were holding protests.
Meanwhile, Sukhpal Singh Khaira president of PEP has approached SAD(Taksali) for an alliance in Lok Sabha poll with the condition that they will withdraw their candidate former army chief General JJ Singh fron Khadoor Sahib and support Paramjit Kaur Khalra wife of slain human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra fielded by Punjab Democratic Allaince. The proposal is dismissed by Brahmpuura.