There has been a lot of talk about the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) not yet having a chief ministerial face in Punjab, with Leader of Opposition in the state Harpal Singh Cheema saying an announcement would be made before the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections in 2022.
Cheema, who is the AAP MLA from Dirba, seems confident of victory. In an interview with CNN-News18 he questioned the work done by the Congress during his current tenure and said that changing the chief minister at the last minute will not help him win. “What I am saying, they have made him (Charanjit Channi) chief minister only for three months. In the 2017 assembly elections, he had made many big promises. Which of them has he implemented?” Cheema said during the interview.
He said that the people of Punjab had demanded justice in 2015 on various issues including sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and agricultural laws, but the Congress did not act. “Captain” Saab (Amarinder Singh) had promised that every household would be given a job. It was a big flop. The land, sand and liquor mafia are running unbridled. There was no change on the ground, not even in small changes.”
Cheema also said that people voted for AAP in 2017 because of Arvind Kejriwal’s policies and the party will get votes this time too.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
How do you think the Congress party’s surprise move to elect a Dalit as its chief minister is affecting you?
Look, they have brought a new Chief Minister for only three months. For only three months. What can a party which has not done anything relevant for Punjab in the last four-and-a-half years, do in just three months? Merely changing the face will not have any effect.
But this is a very important and bold move – even if it is also in terms of symbolism for (as you say) three months.
I am saying that they have made him (Charanjit Channi) chief minister only for three months. In the 2017 assembly elections, he had made many big promises. Which of them has he implemented? During the days of the Akali and Congress governments, Punjab has witnessed the most corruption. People will not forgive him so easily.
Wouldn’t you agree that this move of Congress puts pressure on AAP to declare its chief ministerial face – at least declare who will lead the party in Punjab?
The party will announce its chief ministerial candidate just before the elections.
Isn’t the Congress’s move (of being a Dalit CM) putting pressure on you to clarify your position, at least for the Dalits?
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No, no, there is no pressure.
What is the reason for your confidence?
we are confident. Congress did nothing for Punjab in four and a half years. People of Punjab are demanding justice in Guru Granth Sahib Bidbi Case In 2015, two people were killed in firing. The people responsible for this have not been jailed till date. This is something that even a child of Punjab is aware of, that every citizen is aware of. captain Saab (Amarinder Singh) had promised that every household would be given a job. It was a big flop. The land, sand and liquor mafia are running unbridled. There was no change on the ground, not even in small changes. They (Congress) would have surveyed it and they would have known that the ground under their feet has slipped in Punjab. That is why he must have thought of changing the chief minister with the hope of making some profit. However, as I understand, Congress will gain nothing from this one step.
Everyone is asking the same question that who is your CM face? When one sees Akalis or Congress, he/she gets some idea. But when you look at ‘you’, a blank space pops up.
Look, I have said this before and am saying it again. Aam Aadmi Party will announce its CM face before the elections.
But don’t you think it might be too late?
No, last time, Congress declared its CM face just 10 days before the election. We have enough time.
Is it likely that Aam Aadmi Party may contest elections in Punjab without announcing CM candidate?
No, it’s not a possibility. Aam Aadmi Party will contest elections with the announcement of CM candidate.
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Majha and Doaba proved to be AAP’s weakest areas in 2017. What is the party doing to change this?
We are working on our organization. Our organization in Majha and Doaba is so strong that our volunteers are reaching every household in Punjab. At the same time, people are getting tremendous response on Arvind Kejriwal ji’s model of education, health, corruption free governance, transport, free electricity.
What about the two Congress Deputy Chief Ministers who have their roots in Majha (Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and OP Soni)? Is this a reason for you to be a little nervous?
no no no. Please don’t forget that he has been a minister in the Captain’s cabinet for four and a half years. What did he do for Majha or Doaba in these four and a half years? Now what are they going to achieve in just three months which they could not achieve in four and a half years? Both were senior ministers, one was a minister for medical institutions and the other was a cooperative minister. What great thing has he done that suddenly he will become so popular that he can change the fate of the government? this will not happen. The people of Punjab know that these people did nothing.
So are you sure that people will not give another chance to Congress?
I am 100 percent sure. Your next government will be formed. No other party will get such an opportunity.
Is it true that Bhagwant Mann has been offered the post of Deputy Chief Minister?
Look, so far nothing happened to anyone, so far nothing (Nothing like this has happened so far. Nothing like this has happened). I am repeating that we will announce about such things before the elections. This speculation is premature. There is no such thing. Bhagwant Mann ji is our respected MP and President of the party in Punjab.
So has Bhagwant Mann not been offered the post of Deputy CM?
You want me to say this. I do not know and no such step has been taken.
But what about the stories that keep popping up that Bhagwant Mann is upset?
There is nothing like that. Wonder where you are getting these stories from. You come to Punjab. He is with the party and will be with the party 100%.
What are you doing now to improve your performance in 2017?
We fought (assembly elections) for the first time in Punjab in 2017. You go to the history of Punjab. Till then, Punjab had not given any place to the third force, but it had given that space to Arvind Kejriwal and AAP. People voted for AAP because of Arvind Kejriwal’s policies and chose AAP as the main opposition party. Now we will contest elections in 2022. Whatever shortcomings were there in our organization, we have rectified them. In 2017, the Akali Dal and the BJP transferred their vote base to the Congress to ensure that the AAP did not form the government. Many of their leaders, speaking in public forums, said that they voted against the AAP and in favor of the Congress. This can be clearly seen in Punjab. But, this time, people are aware of the role of Congress or Akalis or BJP in bringing three black laws – the biggest betrayal was done by Akali/BJP and then by the actions of Congress. When the High Power Committee was formed regarding these agricultural laws, Capt. Saab He himself had written a letter to the Prime Minister saying that this would bring a big change and he would like to become a member of the committee. He was made a member but unfortunately did not attend a single meeting. He was aware of every development of the committee but he did not inform the farmers about it. This is something that is famous in Punjab. Congress will be wiped out in the coming elections.
What about the possibility of polarization between Jat Sikhs and Hindus as a result of the Congress being a Dalit chief minister?
There is mutual respect for different religions in Punjab. This has never happened in the history of Punjab. The intentions of BJP and Congress are bound to fail.
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