Punjab Congress on Monday questioned Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s “non-stop Sangat Darshans” in Talwandi Sabo assembly segment, ahead impending by-poll. The main Opposition party in the State has urged Badal to “refrain from indulging in gimmickry for cheap political gains keeping in view his public stature”. They have asked Badal to maintain certain level of decent political decorum, upholding moral and ethical values and allow level playing field to all parties in the forthcoming by-election of Talwandi Sabo.
“This is what the Badal Government does before every election. They distribute grants, lay foundation stones, to woo the voters,” said the State Congress legislative Party (ClP) leader Sunil Jakhar.
Bypoll to Talwandi Sabo assembly segment is yet to be announced by the Election Commission. Notwithstanding, Chief Minister has been holding his public meetings since more than a week. He has all along been maintaining that his Sangat Darshan programmes has “no political motive”.
“Badal’s nonstop Sangat Darshans in Talwandi Sabo exhibit his weak mindset and complete lack of confidence in the voters, particularly after drubbing in lok Sabha polls,” said the party leader Sukhpal Khaira, adding that it appears that the sound drubbing of SAD-BJP alliance has completely shattered Badal’s confidence in the voters.
Khaira pointed that in normal course, Badal holds one Sangat Darshan programme in each Vidhan Sabha constituency after a waiting period of many years. “But in the case of Talwandi Sabo, Badal has been virtually camping there and holding regular Sangat Darshans to influence voters in his party’s favour,”
he added.