An alliance with the Aam Aadmi Occasion (AAP) in Punjab for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections shall be like signing the “dying warrant” for the Congress within the state. “And we do not wish to demolish the Congress,” Chief of the Opposition in Punjab and senior Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa instructed News18 in an interview.
This sturdy stand appears to extinguish all hopes of an alliance between INDIA’s companions in Punjab. The truth is, such is the bitterness between the 2 events that Bajwa additional mentioned that the AAP authorities would quickly be toppled by the Congress. “If we get 10 to 11 seats within the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab (there are 13 seats), we will topple the AAP authorities. Many AAP MLAs are in contact with us. Each time we get the possibility, we’ll overthrow them. If most AAP MLAs wish to come over and never stick with them, what can I do? Who can save a failed marriage?” Bajwa instructed News18.
The arrest of Congress chief Sukhpal Singh Khaira in an previous drug case has pitted AAP and Congress towards one another in Punjab. Bajwa mentioned the case towards Khaira was filed below the Akali authorities as a consequence of revenge as Khaira has at all times been on the incorrect facet of the institution. “Why did Bhagwant Mann concern a collective ticket to Khaira in 2017 whereas the case was happening and swap to AAP? A 12 months later, Arvind Kejriwal made Khaira chief of the opposition in Punjab. Mann has beforehand mentioned it was an act of political revenge. Furthermore, Khaira has already been given a clear chit of types by the Supreme Court docket,” Bajwa instructed News18.
The Congress LoP alleged that AAP has no cadres in Punjab and due to this fact desires to point out Congress as a corrupt get together. “By arresting our former ministers, they wish to demoralize our management and produce Congress cadres to AAP. For God’s sake we must always not have an alliance with AAP. Individuals have seen the actual face of AAP in 18 months, persons are disillusioned and are coming again to Congress,” Bajwa mentioned. He claimed that Congress would get 35-36% votes if it contested alone in Punjab in 2024 and will win 9-10 seats by itself.
“We’re going hammer and tongs at one another, how can we be on the identical stage? We wish a settlement just like the one in Kerala the place either side are combating towards one another,” Bajwa mentioned. He mentioned the get together had spoken to Congress cadres, its district presidents and the MLAs – none of whom had been prepared for an alliance with AAP. “…besides a number of of our MPs in Delhi, who suppose their work will change into slightly simpler, nobody desires an alliance with AAP,” Bajwa mentioned.
Turning his weapons on AAP, Bajwa mentioned the ruling get together’s efficiency within the state could possibly be much like the well-known Urdu couplet: “Har shaakh pe ullu baitha hai, anjame gulistan kya hoga”, and argued that the earlier the AAP authorities leaves, the earlier will probably be higher for Punjab. “They’ve already taken a mortgage of Rs 50,000 crore. The AAP authorities will grow to be the most important looters and looters of Punjab,” the senior Congress chief mentioned.
