Poll wave in favour of AAP, claims CM Mann

CM Bhagwant Mann today claimed that surveys by multiple intelligence sources indicated “a discernible wave in favour of AAP”.

Minutes later, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the CM was trying to fool the public. “There are no surveys indicating an AAP victory. On the contrary, going by the mood of the voters, it is clear that the Congress will win,” he added.

“During the Lok Sabha poll, Mann had claimed that his party candidate would win. However, I won by 83,000 votes. Whatever he says lacks authenticity and legitimacy,” he added.

This is the second election rally by the CM in Dera Baba Nanak in the last one week. AAP sources say he thinks “if his party candidate wins, the stature of Gurdaspur MP Randhawa will take a hit and if that happens, the Congress in Punjab will be considerably weakened”.

This, however, was countered by Congress leaders who claimed AAP stood decimated even before the first vote had been cast as negligible developmental initiatives had taken place in the area.

Mann also said the Akalis were a “vanishing tribe and the party had fallen to such low levels in the eyes of the public that it was unable to find four suitable candidates for the byelections”.

“What have other parties given while being in power? On my part, I have given 45,000 jobs, stopped multiple pensions for MLAs, given 600 units of free electricity and closed 16 toll plazas,” the CM said.