Delhi, January 24, 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): The Punjab Congress has thrust into the Delhi poll campaign its 250 leaders, mounting a scathing attack against the Aam Aadmi Party over its unfulfilled promises in the state, including the commitment to provide the women with a monthly stipend.
The state Congress has also set up a control room, with its leaders divided in 14 teams focusing on door-to-door canvassing in Punjabi-speaking areas spread over 15 Assembly segments like Kalkaji, New Delhi, Badli, Janakpuri, Tilak Nagar and Rajouri Graden.
Among the top leaders canvassing there are Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, OP Soni, Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Rana Gurjeet, Sukhpal Khaira and Dr Amar Singh.
According to Congress leaders, they are trying tell Delhi voters that AAP had failed to win more than three seats in Punjab in the Lok Sabha poll last year due to its “misgovernance” despite bagging 92 of 117 seats in the 2022 Assembly poll and dislodging the Congress.
“It is like a rehearsal for the 2027 Assembly poll in Punjab,” said a former minister as the Congress seeks to replace AAP in Delhi, where it ruled for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2013 before losing the Assembly poll to the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.
“During the 2022 Punjab Assembly poll, AAP led by Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann showcased the Delhi model and took state voters for a ride. Now, they are trying to fool Delhi voters by highlighting their Punjab model. We are here to show Delhi voters the ground realty,” said Warring.
AAP had promised during the Assembly poll to give state women aged 18 and above Rs 1,000 per month, a plan that is yet to be rolled out by its government. A similar promise has been made by AAP in Delhi, which is going to the polls on February 5.
Congress leaders said the other issues being raised by them are the AAP’s failure in tackling the drug menace and the “poor” state of law and order in Punjab.
Sukhwinder Singh Danny, a former legislator, said their experience of AAP’s rule in Punjab is helping the Delhi Congress.
“Congress MPs from Punjab, who have been appointed as observers for the elections, are showcasing the 2024 Lok Sabha results when the Congress won seven seats and AAP could win just three,” he said. Punjab Congress general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Sandhu said their leaders under Warring have been camping in Delhi since January 18.
Earlier, both AAP and the Congress — who had contested the Lok Sabha poll last year in a 4-3 seat arrangement in the Capital as part of the Opposition’s INDIA bloc — parted ways for the Delhi Assembly poll.
Summary: Punjab Congress ramps up its campaign against AAP, launching aggressive strategies to challenge the ruling party in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.