CHANDIGARH: The thumping victory of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state president Bhagwant Mann from Sangrur Lok Sabha seat has revived the hopes of third political alternative in Punjab. The split in the AAP and defection by its MLAs had frustrated the people who wanted to see a government with good governance.
Though AAP has won 0nly Lok Sabha seat, the party has put a brave face and performed better than all those had deserted it and tried to provide better alternative to AAP. The Performance of defeated candidates of AAP is not too bad in the circumstances when all major forces were bent to discredit AAP. It is matter of record that before the assembly elections in 3017, AAP had become a force to be reckon with and became the victim of over confidence and bitch hunting by traditional parties i.e Congress and SAD-BJP alliance.
Sukhpal Singh Khaira who formed Punjab Ekta party after his removal from AAP has all qualities of a good leader but he seemed over ambitious and failed to keep track of nerve of the people. There is a message in the defeat of Sukhpal Khaira in Bathinda, Dharmaveer Gandhi in Patiala and Paramjit Kaur Khalra in Khadoor Sahib. Khaira and Gandhi could have been better assets for AAP and simultaneously they both could have better prospects in AAP.
Bhagwant Mann is the only leader from whole lot of AAP and its splinter groups who proved his mantel and eastablished himself as leader of masses. Defeating candidates of two major political parties-Kewal Dhillon of Congress and Parminder Singh Dhindsa of SAD-was a big challenge for Mann. Both his rivals were cash rich and had the backing of major political parties. His critics who were not considering him a popular leader and taking him lightly were silenced by Mann.
It is indeed an appropriate time to bring together all those leaders who had deserted AAP and address the core issue of giving an autonomy to state leadership and eastablish local leaders to lead the party. The results of these elections have shown that there is no future of smaller political groups, their presence woudl rather help the Congress and SAD to defeat the dream of third political alternative. For instance the presence of Sukhpal Singh Khaira in Bathinda seat ensured victory of SAD candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal. In Patiala Dharamveer Gandhi had though not mattered in victory of any candidate but his defeat was setback to the efforts of setting up third alternative in the state.
The message of the people is very clear that opposition parties have to present an united face to save future of people of Punjab. If Bhagwant Mann has eastablished his supremacy, the other leaders should burn their egos. There is big political vacuum in Punjab and it is duty of all worthy leaders who want change to the present political system. The assembly elections in 2022 will be another opportunity to provide third political alternative. People are ready to fill the space.