SATISH HANDA
Residents of Punjab as well as are all political parties are awaiting action and future strategy of former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh and Punjab politics when he stated that he will not retire from politics challenging Congress high command to remain prepared for a tough fight against Congress candidate contesting in coming elections in Punjab in 2022. It is yet a suspense if Captain will join hands with some other political powerful party in opposition: Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) or create his own independent party to contest coming polls in Punjab against Congress candidate for which however chances are less. If we look at the previous Vidhan Sabha polls in Punjab state Congress was able to get nearly 40% votes because Captain’s own reputation during last polls, AAP was winner at 20 Vidhan Sabha seats getting 23.7% votes and BJP candidates were able to get hardly 9.5% votes. According to political experts, in case former Punjab Chief Minister Captain joins hands with BJP it may become a party of third political power in Punjab politics in coming Vidhan Sabha polls. However, in such case Punjab may witness a four corners contest in coming polls in the state.
SAD is another heavy weight political party in Punjab ruled over in the state continuously for 10 years winning Vidhan Sabha polls in 2007 and 2012 in alliance with BJP and formed government in Punjab, but lost to Congress in last poll battle in the state due to powerful Congress candidate Captain Amrinder Singh. Congress high command is aware of that it is difficult to win the race in 2022 Vidhan Sabha polls and played ‘trial card’ on the advice of Navjot Singh Sidhu party president in the state appointing Charanjit Singh Channi a a Dalit leader as Chief Minister in the state in order to attract Dalit vote bank in coming 2022 elections having over 30% Dalit voters in Punjab state.
There is possibility of Captain Amrinder Singh may join hands with BJP and in this regard as Haryana Home Minister a heavy weight BJP leader in Haryana state has already indicated Captain to join hand with BJP and form next government in Punjab. Sources reveal, both SAD earlier having association with BJP and AAP also holding influence in Punjab state will not hesitate to join hands with former Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh having good reputation in the state in order to form next government in Punjab state after 2022 elections. Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Supremo Mayawati has warned all Dalit voters in Punjab not to support Congress candidate in Pubjab state played ‘Dalit card’ by appointing Charanjit Singh Channi as Chief Minister in the state for a period of only few months just to attract Dalit vote bank in order to win next elections in 2022 in favour of Congress.
Comments war after announcement of Charanjit Singh Channi as new Chief Minister in Punjab by Congress high command has started when Captain challenged for a tough fight to Congress candidate during 2022 Vidhan Sabha polls in Punjab blaming Navjot Sidhu a danger to country as well as Punjab state due to his intimate relations with Imran Khan and army General Bajwa in Pakistan, besides expressing revolt said Navjot Singh’s dreams to become Punjab Chief Minister will not be fulfilled.
