SNE NETWORK.BATHINDA/CHANDIGARH.
Factionalism has become a significant challenge for major political parties in the district’s six assembly seats, including the Bathinda Urban seat in the Malwa region. The Shiromani Akali Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, and BJP are searching for strong candidates for these seats. Internal factionalism is currently at its peak within all parties, leaving voters confused. This situation is a cause for concern for the parties in view of the upcoming elections.
A major dispute is brewing between Aam Aadmi Party Urban MLA Jagroop Singh Gill and party leader and Punjab Cricket Association President Amarjeet Mehta. This factionalism may come to the fore during Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visit to Bathinda. Internal strife is also continuing within the Congress, where City President Rajan Garg has failed to unite leaders and workers. As a result, some leaders and workers have left the Congress and joined the AAP.
Traditional leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal have also expressed their views to the party high command regarding the current city president, but the party is still unable to emerge. Factionalism has intensified within the BJP, too, between the factions of former MLA Sarup Chand Singla and Manpreet Badal.
Regarding the history of the Bathinda urban constituency, Hindu candidates have won most of the elections here. All major parties, including the BJP, are now searching for prominent Hindu leaders with economic and social strength.
According to sources, the BJP may field an outside Hindu candidate. Currently, the Aam Aadmi Party controls all six assembly seats in Bathinda district. However, given the current election environment, the AAP’s support base appears to be declining, which has worried the party high command.
Confusion Among Voters
Factionalism is rampant within all parties in the Bathinda urban constituency. Consequently, no leader is able to win the full support of voters. A major dispute is ongoing between AAP’s city MLA Jagroop Singh Gill and leader Amarjeet Mehta. This internal strife may come to light during Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s upcoming visit. Urban voters are unsure about which party to support. Congress city president Rajan Garg has also failed to unite party workers.
Factionalism between Singla and Manpreet Badal
Internal factionalism is raging within the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, as well as the BJP. Traditional leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal have expressed their displeasure with the current city president to the party high command. Rajan Garg’s failure in the Congress has led some workers to join the AAP. Within the BJP, factionalism has intensified between former MLA Sarup Chand Singla and Manpreet Badal. This situation has worsened after Manpreet Badal was given a major responsibility in the BJP. As the elections approach, this internal factionalism is becoming a major challenge for all parties.
Changing Electoral Equations
The Bathinda urban seat has historically been dominated by the Hindu vote bank, although Sikh candidates have won in the last two assembly elections. The city’s residents were unable to get the expected work done from these leaders. The BJP is now preparing to field a prominent Hindu leader with economic and social strength for this seat, which could include outside candidates.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) currently controls all six assembly seats in the district, but its support base appears to be declining. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had an upper hand in the Panchayat elections, which has provided a brief respite. Local SAD workers are unhappy with the current MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s lack of activity.###UK###USA###CANADA###PUNJAB###POLITICS###SAD###HARSIMRAT##KAUR###BADAL###BATHINDA###AUSTRALIA###NEWZEALAND###SINGAPORE###