Abroad but not away, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has claimed that he is just an email away. Out of country on vacation with his kids, Sukhbir on Monday “dedicated” an e-mail id — sukhbirbadal2014@ gmail.com — to the general public for coming out with suggestions and criticism.
In an attempt to create a “Government That listens”, Sukhbir has made a new e-mail address asking the general public to “send in constructive suggestions, feedback, viewpoints and anything that you want to tell me in confidence on this email”.
Sukhbir made it clear that he wanted to “hear” every one through this e-mail id “directly”, even though he may not be able to reply to each one of the email. The announcement of the e-mail address was made by Deputy Chief Minister on the social networking website, Facebook, on his official page after people’s complaint of Government not listening to the people closely and directly.
“I often hear the complaint that the Government is not listening to people closely and directly. Although both the Chief Minister and me do sangat darshan to meet people first hand and keep travelling across the State to meet people, it is a fact that it is physically impossible to meet and listen to every citizen everyday...Now you can write to me directly at sukhbirbadal2014@gmail.com,” read Sukhbir’s post on the Facebook.
Sukhbir, since past few days or say post lok Sabha election, has become quite active on the Facebook, seeking people’s suggestions, making announcements, among other things.Almost two years after forming Government in the State for second consecutive term, the SAD-BJP could not perform well during the recently concluded lok Sabha elections. Despite strong Modi-tsunami and anti-Congress wave, the party could bag just six seats out of total.
What is more, the SAD’s vote share has come down from 34.73 per cent in 2012 Assembly polls, to 26.3 per cent, while that of the BJP, its has increased from 7.18 per cent in 2012 to 8.7 in 2014 polls.Sukhbir’s pro-active approach not only in the Government functioning but also in the party activities with a main focus on forming a connection with the common man is being seen as a move towards fortifying party’s base.
The political observers are attributing the development to the not-so-good performance of SAD-BJP alliance in the parliamentary polls. Sukhbir is coming up with innovative strategies, using Facebook as a tool to get in touch with people, assigning days to hold sangat darshan at party office, decision to strengthen party’s base down from the grass root level, besides constituting an effective grievances redressal mechanism.
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From Sukhbir’s Facebook Wall
“I often hear the complaint that the government is not listening to people closely and directly. Although both the CM and me do sangat darshan to meet people first hand and keep travelling across the state to meet people, it is a fact that it is physically impossible to meet and listen to every citizen everyday.
Now you can write to me directly at sukhbirbadal2014@gmail.com.
Send in your constructive suggestions, feedback, viewpoints and anything that you want to tell me in confidence on this email. In Punjab it is the — GOVERNMENT THAT lISTENS — and through this email you can make me hear you directly. It may not be possible to reply to every email, but I will be listening...listening to every word you send.”
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