According to the latest Election Commission data of India, AAP has won 20 seats in the 117-seat Punjab Assembly and is leading on another 71 at 2:40 pm.
According to the results declared by the election officials, Mann defeated Congress candidate and sitting MLA Dalveer Singh Goldie by a margin of 58,206 votes.
Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann has been declared the AAP’s face for the Punjab Assembly elections by party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal. He defeated Dalveer Singh Goldy of INC by a margin of 58,206 votes from Dhuri Assembly Constituency in Sangrur District.
How the party leadership chose Mann is a story in itself. AAP conducted telephonic conversations with people to find out who they would like to see as the leader in Punjab, and it is learned that 93.3% have chosen Mann as the CM candidate, according to various party leaders.
Born in 1973 in Satoj village of Sangrur, Mann started his career as a comedian. He started his political career in 2011 with the Punjab People’s Party, which is headed by Manpreet Singh Badal. In 2012, he contested from Lahargaga constituency but lost.
Later, he joined Aam Aadmi Party in 2014 and contested from Sangrur Lok Sabha seat. His importance in Punjab politics increased when he defeated veteran Punjab leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who was then with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Mann has been elected to the Punjab Lok Sabha seat of Sangrur for two consecutive terms since 2014. He gained popularity with his satire in the TV show ‘Jugnu Mast Mast’. He also acted in many other comedy shows.
AAP’s victory will be the party’s first victory in the state and a major improvement from its performance in the 2017 elections when it finished second only to the Congress.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet of Punjab will be held in Khatkar Kalan, the native village of great freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in Nawanshahr district.
He also said that no government office will display the chief minister’s picture. Instead, photographs of Bhagat Singh and BR Ambedkar will be installed on the walls of government offices.
Addressing party workers and supporters in Dhuri, Mann said, “The swearing-in ceremony will not be held at Raj Bhavan, but at Khatkar Kalan. The date will be announced later.” Leading in 91 out of 117 assembly seats in Punjab.
Appealing to the people to work unitedly, Mann said that those who did not vote for the APP need not worry as the government would work for all sections of the society.
(with inputs from agencies)
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