Political News

Defeat triggers blame game between People’s Party of Punjab and Congress

May 20, 2014 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau

Bathinda, Punjab (May 20, 2014): Close defeat of Manpreet Badal, joint candidate of Congress and People’s Party of Punjab from Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency has triggered a blame game between Congress and PPP leaders. Manpreet Badal lost Bathinda seat to Badal Dal’s candidate Harsimrat Badal by a mere 19,395 votes.

Harsimrat Badal was able to secure a lead in six Assembly segments with Lambi providing her the biggest lead of more than 34,000 votes. Manpreet Badal led in only three Assembly segments and secured the maximum votes in Bathinda Urban (more than 29,000 votes).

According to The Tribune (TT): [w]hile Congress’ sitting MLA from Sardulgarh Ajit Inder Singh Mofar feels that it was Manpreet Badal’s over-confidence that led to his defeat, Congress MLA from Bucho (reserved) Ajaib Singh Bhatti blames it on the PPP workers. He says they did not let the Congress activists lead the election campaign.

“We were not given a free hand in campaigning. Everything was planned by the PPP cadre,” he said.

According to TT report: Jaijeet Johal, PPP leader and Manpreet’s brother-in-law, who was in charge of Mansa district, said: “Congress leaders did not campaign wholeheartedly. In the Sardulgarh Assembly segment, Manpreet trailed by about 21,000 votes. Here, the Congress men had done nothing. The Mansa District Congress Committee president was busy in Ludhiana where his brother-in-law Ravneet Bittu was fighting the elections,” he alleged. Johal said it was not the AAP factor but Congress infighting that had led to Manpreet’s defeat, he claimed.

“As coordination committees were set up in each village, it is wrong to say that the PPP cadre did not allow Congress workers a free hand. Manpreet, in fact, gave preference to Congress leaders in every Assembly segment,” he added.

Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, MLA, said: “My son Bikram Mofar worked hard and the people of Mansa gave a lead of more than 21,000 votes to Manpreet Badal. Money and muscle power used by the Badals led to Manpreet’s defeat. Also, Manpreet was overconfident.”

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Related Topics: Harsimrat Badal, Indian National Congress, Manpreet Badal, PPP, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal)

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