-SATISH HANDA
Coming Vidhan Sabha polls in Punjab are likely to have 4 sided contest between Congress party ruling in the state, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and newly launched Punjab Lok Congress Party by former Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh after submitting his resignation having alliance with Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal United (SAD-U). None of the party except AAP has announced the face of chief minister in case party wins majority in coming elections. However, SAD (U) has projected the name of Bhagwant Maam as their chief minister in case party wins majority in coming polls.
SAD is another influential political party successfully ruled over in Punjab state for a long time in past years. According to information, Party supremo Parkash Singh Badal has already started poll campaign for the party playing minority card by having alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) having majority of voters in Punjab state. However, Congress, too, trying hard to attract voters belonging to backward class communities as such had appointed Charanjit Channi as chief minister from backward class category in a hope to get support of backward class voters having over 30% strength in the state. SAD is trying to attract Sikhs vote bank having majority in the state. Sukhbir Singh Badal is expected chief minister face in case SAD wins polls and comes to power once again in coming electioins.
Newly born Punjab Lok Congress party launched by former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh is going to contest Vidhan Sabha polls having alliance with BJP and SAD (U). Although, Punjab Lok Congress has yet not disclosed the face of their chief minister in case party wins the race. Needless to say, Captain Amrinder Singh having god reputation among people in Punjab state as well as a spotless background when he was chief minister in the state for years would be next chief minister’s face once agaist in case party wins poll battle with BJP support . Moreover, Cpatain is well aware of each nd every constituency in Punjab state. Punjab Lok Congress has already declared to contest in all 117 constituencies in coming polls in which BJP will contest polls in 65 constituencies, Punjab Lok Congress will contest polls in 37 constituencies and SAD (U) will constest in 15 constituencies in coming Vidhan Sabha elections.
It is yet a suspense by ruling Congress party in Punjab about chief minister face in case party comes to power again since party is facing unrest due to clash between party leaders especially Charanjit Singh Channi chief minister and party president Navjot Singh Sidhu making basesless political comments on each other adversely affecting the reputation of party and high command is worried over in-fight between party’s senior leaders and has decided not to take action under a influence.According to Rana Gurjit Singh a minister in Punjab state while talking to media persons recently said that Sidhu joined Congress with a aims to become chief minister in the state and responsible for crisis in party and conflict between party leaders.
In a recent survey about next chief minister in Punjab state in case Congress comes to power against 68.7% people expressed their first choice in favour of Charanjit Singh Channi, followed by 11.5% people expressed second choice in favour of Navjot Singh Sidhu, 9.3% people expressed their choice in favour of Sunil Jakhad a previous party president in the state and 10.4% people said there is no need for chief minister face in Punjab. However, Congress has announced a list of 86 candidates to contest coming Vidhan Sabha polls in Punjab giving a severe dent to Captain Amrinder Singh’s newly born political party by offering seats to 60 existing Congress MLAs in Punjab state, some of prominent names include Charanjit Singh Channi to contest from Chamkaur Sahib constituency, Navjot Singh Sidhu to contest from Amritsar (East) seat, Manpreet Badal to contest from Bhatinda (Urban seat), Sukhvinder Randhawa to contest from Dera Baba Nanak seat, O.P. Soni to contest from Amritsar Central seat, Partap Singh Bajwa to contest from Kadian seat, Sidhu Musewala to contest from Mansa seat, Malvika Sood sister of Sonu Sood to contest from Moga seat.
