Patiala, Two-time Chief Minister of Punjab and Punjab Lok Congress supremo Amarinder Singh believes that no single party will get a clear majority in the Assembly elections 2022 and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and The position of his party’s alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (United) is getting stronger. The 79-year-old Singh, a descendant of the royal family of Patiala and former chief of the state unit of the Congress, has decided to part ways after resigning as the chief minister of Punjab last year. The team was formed. Singh said that he is neither retired nor tired.
He said that the aspiration to make Punjab and the country better gives him the energy to keep working even at this age. “I am not ready to retire. I want to work for my people. I am contesting for the ninth time… I have been elected twice to the Parliament and six times to the Assembly.” Regarding the election scenario in Punjab, Singh said that this time there will be a quadrangular or pentagonal contest and apart from this there are some independent candidates.
“Multi-cornered contest will make it easier for voters to decide. As far as political parties are concerned, unless they do really well, it is going to be difficult for them,” Singh said. Many of them will not be able to get more than 10 or 15 seats. I don’t think any one party will get a clear majority. People talk of ‘AAP’ (Aam Aadmi Party). I think ‘aap’ is going down day by day. Similarly, the performance of Congress is also declining. By the grace of God, we are going upwards.” On Charanjit Singh Channi being made the chief ministerial face by the Congress and his belonging to the Dalit community, Singh said that people should not vote for any caste or community, Rather vote on the basis of ability.
Singh said, “I do not like such talk of caste and community. After 75 years of independence, we should vote not on the basis of caste, but on the basis of ability. As far as capability is concerned, his (Chani’s) level is suitable for the post of minister and not for the chief minister’s post. His returns are in crores of rupees, but he is claiming that he is a poor person.”
On his alliance with the BJP, Singh said he has joined hands with the party for the betterment and security of Punjab and as far as the chief ministerial face is concerned, it can be decided after the elections. Singh said that the state shares a 600-km border with Pakistan and it needs people who are sensitive and can start a new era of development in the state. Under the alliance, BJP will contest 65 seats, Punjab Lok Congress 37 and SAD (United) party led by Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa will contest 15 seats. Polling for 117 assembly seats in Punjab will be held on February 20.