The coronation of Punjab’s former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh as the State Congress president will be held on December 15 at a “massive” public rally at Bathinda, known as the Badals’ political bastion.
The rally was earlier scheduled for December 13, but it was decided that it would be organised on December 15 during a meeting of the senior party leaders and other office bearers of the Malwa zone on Thursday at Patiala.
Party’s senior vice-president and MlA laal Singh has been appointed convener for the rally.
Accepting SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s challenge to hold a rally at Bathinda, Capt Amarinder has decided Bathinda for the venue. Moreover, Sukhbir’s cousin and former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal is expected to address the rally.
Manpreet, the son of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s younger brother Gurdas Badal, had contested as a Congress candidate from Bathinda during 2014 lok Sabha elections against the Badal bahu Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
Giving her a tough fight, Manpreet narrowed down her victory margin from 1.15 lakh votes in 2009 lok Sabha polls against Capt Amarinder’s son Raninder Singh, to just 19,874 votes in 2014.
As Capt Amarinder has time and again asserting that he was open to alliance with the like-minded parties, there are reports that Manpreet Badal, and his People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) would join the Congress during Bathinda rally.
Even though the PPP failed to secure even a single seat during 2012 Assembly polls, it bagged five per cent of votes across the State’s upsetting Congress’ poll prospects. The party, post-poll analysis, cited PPP’s presence as a major factor to party’s resounding defeat in 2012.
Capt Amarinder is all set to sound the poll bugle for the next 2017 State polls with Bathinda rally. “Bathinda rally will mark the beginning of the battle for 2017 elections,” he said.
“The atmosphere is totally in favour of the Congress as the common man in Punjab is looking forward to Congress to get rid of the callous and corrupt Akali-BJP Government,” he said during the meeting.
On the occasion, Devinder Singh Darshi, who had joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) returned to the Congress along with his supporters. He was welcomed in the party by Capt Amarinder. “With Capt Amarinder as the PPCC president, the party is certain to return to power in Punjab,” said Darshi.