In battle of prestige, Bhagwant Mann reigns supreme

Ruchika M Khanna

Chandigarh, July 13

The emphatic win of the Aam Aadmi Party in the Jalandhar West bypoll is as much a personal victory for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as for the ruling party.

The victory at the hustings comes close on the heels of a rather dismal (electoral) performance of AAP in the Lok Sabha elections, where the party won just three of the 13 seats in the state. The CM had almost single-handedly led the General Election campaign, and the poor show had seen the knives coming out against Mann.

Celebrations at AAP office

Celebrations broke out in the party office of AAP in UT after the resounding victory in the Jalandhar West. Ministers Harpal Cheema, Laljit Singh Bhullar and Harbhajan ETO, besides many other party leaders, exchanged sweets and congratulated party workers for the victory.

Cabinet reshuffle soon?

Elections over, the talk of Cabinet reshuffle has once again started doing the rounds. As many as three Cabinet berths are lying vacant, including the one left by Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, after he was elected as the Sangrur MP.

Thumbs up to my government

The Opposition targeted me for campaigning in the bylanes of Jalandhar. But I have come from similar bylanes of Sangrur. People of Jalandhar could relate to me as being one of them and they have given thumbs up to my government’s development agenda and corruption-free governance. Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister

Not to be bogged down, Mann and his close group of aides and immediate family decided to approach the people of Jalandhar directly to seek their mandate. “The Opposition targeted me for campaigning in the bylanes of Jalandhar. But I have come from similar bylanes of Sangrur. People of Jalandhar could relate to me as being one of them and they have given thumbs up to my government’s development agenda and corruption-free governance,” Mann told The Tribune.

Today’s win, with a margin of over 37,000 votes, also comes ahead of four crucial byelections to Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal, Barnala and Gidderbaha Assembly segments, and the rural and urban civic elections. With the win, the party has not only settled a score with AAP MLA Sheetal Angural, who had jumped ship to the BJP, necessitating the bypoll, but also given a much-needed boost to the cadre before the upcoming elections, which are expected to be held before the end of this year.

By winning Jalandhar West, once again, the total number of ruling party MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha remains 92. With some MLAs in the party showing signs of rebellion, especially after the LS poll results, the win today is expected to calm them down as Mann has delivered the much-needed victory.

Much to the chagrin of the party poll strategists for the bypoll, CM Mann had decided to lead the poll campaign from the front. Historically, in Punjab, bypolls have not been led by chief ministers as these are considered a referendum on the performance of the government. A loss at the hustings is considered the electoral and moral loss of the CM. Thus, strategically, barring a few rallies, chief ministers in the past have preferred to let other leaders of their parties lead the campaigning.

But Mann, who is also the president of the state unit of AAP, said he would go against the grain. Not only did he lead the campaign, but also made Jalandhar his “second home” — by taking a house on lease and promising to run the government for two days a week from the city. He also made his wife, Dr Gurpreet Kaur, campaign extensively across the Jalandhar West constituency. Finally, his gamble has paid off.