Two warring factions — each headed by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa — within the State Congress unit has come together on Monday to ensure party’s victory in its first acid test after forming the Government six months back.
Remaining out of scene from Gurdaspur political battleground, Bajwa on Monday joined the campaign for Gurdaspur lok Sabha bypoll for the first time seeking votes for the party candidate Sunil Jakhar while calling him an “ideal” nominee.
Bajwa’s participation in the electioneering assumes significance amid reports that he had sought a ticket for his wife and Qadian’s former MlA Charanjit Kaur for the bypoll, and was even upset for denying his claims.
Moreover, the Opposition parties were criticising the Congress party on Bajwa’s absence from Jakhar’s poll campaign.
Considered close to party’s national vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Bajwa had been former lok Sabha MP from Gurdaspur.
“I would campaign for Jakhar in all nine assembly segments of the Gurdaspur seat,” declared Bajwa while talking to media at the residence of Qadian MlA and his younger brother Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa.
later in the day, addressing a workers’ meeting at Tugalwal village ground in Qadian, Bajwa said that Jakhar was like a brother to him.
“Sunil Jakhar is like a brother to me and an ideal candidate to represent the people in this border belt in the Parliament,” he said.
lambasting the SAD members, Jakhar said that the Akalis claimed to be
‘Faqr-e-Quam’ (pride of the community), but they allegedly “sold off” Punjab’s interests for their personal gains while referring to the Rs 32,000-crore foodgrain “scam” during the Akali regime and vowed to bring back every dime.
“It was former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who looked after the interests of Punjab and was the real Faqr-e-Quam and Capt Amarinder Singh is ‘Punjab Da Sher’,” said Jakhar, declaring that the Congress Government would take into account the Government funds misused by the Akalis and bring the culprits to book.
Jakhar, who was also present there, recalled that as lok Sabha MP, Bajwa got 400-km roads constructed in Gurdaspur.
later, addressing worker meetings in Qadian, Jakhar charged BJP candidate Swarn Salaria with giving “misleading” statements on GST and other issues.
“Contrary to what Salaria was projecting, GST had not benefited anyone so far,” he said, challenging his opponent to engage in a debate with him on issues of education and employment.
Referring to alleged atrocities against Dalits during the Akali regime, Jakhar recalled that he had always raised his voice against such incidents.
Jakhar said that the Capt Amarinder Government was ensuring that every elderly person got his old age pension and every family eligible for Blue Cards received their due irrespective of their political allegiance.
Jakhar, who was also the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, came down heavily on the price rise under the Modi government, pointing out that the lPG cylinder that used to cost Rs 400 under the UPA Government now costs Rs 744.
“A vote for Salaria will send across a misleading message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that people are happy with the Central Government’s policies,” said Jakhar, exhorting the people to cast their vote judiciously.
Earlier, addressing a meeting organised by the United Christian Front in Gurdaspur, Jakhar said that the minorities needed political empowerment, which only the Congress could provide them.
The Gurdaspur lok Sabha bypoll, necessitated following the death of actor and BJP MP Vinod Khanna, has been scheduled for October 11.