Awaaz-e-Punjab’s one the founder members, Simarjit Sigh Bains, on Friday made it clear that they were not averse to holding Congress’ ‘hand’, sans Capt Amarinder Singh, for the 2017 polls.
At the same time, Simarjit, the younger of the two Bains brothers, elucidated that they will come with anyone “who
has the strong willpower to remove all the mafias run by the Badals”.
The assertion came as Simarjit spelled out his intentions of contesting the polls despite his party’s decision to wait for a couple of years. Coalition was an option, he said.
“We agree with what (Navjot Singh) Sidhu and Pargat Singh have said,” Simarjit told The Pioneer when asked regarding the decision of the former parliamentarian Navjot Singh Sidhu and Olympian Pargat Singh of Awaaz-e-Punjab not contesting 2017 polls.
Sidhu, within a month the cricketer-turned-politician started a new innings by launching Awaaz-e-Punjab with former SAD MlA Pargat Singh and independent MlAs — Simarjit Singh Baisn and Balwinder Singh Bains, on Wednesday declared that the time was too less for them to prepare the party for polls, scheduled to be held in January-February next year.
Making it clear that newly-formed front Awaaz-e-Punjab won’t be a political party but only a forum, he at the same time “welcomed” any alliance for the betterment of Punjab. He maintained that the party did not want to “play spoilsport” by dividing anti-incumbency votes, or “confuse the people of Punjab” to benefit traditional players—the SAD-BJP combine and the Congress.
Simarjit, supporting Sidhu for breaking the Badal-Amarinder nexus for Punjab’s interest, said, “This is the need of the hour…They are two sides of the same coin. look how they partake in each other’s functions, how they fight a friendly battle.”
Asked if they were left with the only option of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or the proposed fourth front expected to be floated by AAP’s sacked convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, he remarked, “Congress mein sirf Captain hi nahi hai (Only Capt Amarinder is not there in the Congress)”, while refusing to divulge any further.
“We can go with anyone…NaAAP, na tum, na khaas,” he said.
Keeping his cards close to his chest, Simarjit said that the picture would be clear in days to come. “One thing we would make sure…we would not let the anti-incumbency votes disintegrate,” he said.
Indian hockey team’s former captain, Pargat Singh had also maintained that the “forum” had decided not to form a political outfit but would rather have an alliance either “with the Congress or Aam Aadmi Party” — only to back off on Congress’ name later.
At the same time, Simrajit maintained that all the member of Awaaz-e-Punjab “stand united”.