Punjab polls: SAD's Bikram Majithia takes PPCC chief Navjot Sidhu head-on in Amritsar East

GS Paul
Amritsar, January 20

Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and Akali leader Bikram Majithia went head-to-head for the Amritsar East seat on Sunday.

This election is a fight for Punjab’s soul, Punjab Pradesh Congress chief Sidhu said as he and his wife cast their votes.

The fight remains one of the most interesting battles of the day—this is the first time Majithia’s fighting for the seat that is Sidhu’s home ground.

 “These elections are unlike any other,” Sidhu told reporters at the polling station. “It’s a dharmayudh. On the one hand, you have people looting the states and eating away Punjab’s insides like termites. One the other is a side that wants to bring change and bring back Punjab’s lost glory.”

His party’s goal, he said, was to Punjab’s “resurrection”.

“The ‘mafia’ who have mortgaged Punjab under the garb of ‘thekedari’ system and looted the state exchequer has been exposed. I believe the people of Punjab have realised the difference and will seal their mandate keeping in view the welfare of the state,” he said.

Majithia on the other hand said Sidhu’s own constituency lies in a state of neglect.

 “People will reject Sidhu Saheb’s arrogance and politics of hatred.  People there are cribbing about having no access to the most basic facilities. It has no job opportunities and its healthcare and education systems are broken,” Majithia said.

The Congress, Majithia claimed, was never public-friendly.

“Now, the Congress has projected Channi as a ‘poor man’ who owns property worth crores and wears expensive watches. This has been exposed and people will give their verdict wisely,” he said.

Punjab has not bought Aam Aadmi Party’s Delhi model, Majitha said.

 “Punjabis are nationalists, universal brotherhood and take their own call,” he said.