AAP has created history in Punjab. AAP is leading in 90 seats out of the total 117 assembly seats in the state. If this lead persists, AAP will win 80 per cent of the seats in the state. AAP was already expected to get more seats in Punjab. Exit polls also indicated this. But, no one expected to get so many seats. After all, what is the reason that most of the people of Punjab have shown so much trust in any one party? Let us try to know the answer to this question.
Anti-incumbency wave against Congress
There was a strong anti-incumbency wave in Punjab. In the 2017 assembly elections, the people of Punjab gave a chance to the Congress. The Congress had won 77 seats then out of the total 117 seats in the state. BJP got 3 seats and Akali Dal got 15 seats. Yes, AAP had indicated the future by winning 20 seats. Punjab remained the ground of infighting within the Congress for five years. Captain Amarinder Singh made a good start as Chief Minister. But, the bad days of Congress started as soon as Navjot Singh Sidhu became active in Punjab politics. He made it difficult for the Captain to run the government. The top leadership of the Congress failed to handle him. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi failed to crack down on Sidhu. Eventually, Sidhu breathed his last by removing the Captain from the Chief Minister’s chair. Charanjit Singh Channi appeared to be a weak leader from the beginning. It became clear that he was the product of manipulative politics. People did not like this head foot-football in Congress. Therefore, the voters of Punjab rejected the Congress outright.
Voters liked AAP’s work in Delhi
The people of Punjab liked the work of the AAP government in Delhi. One reason for this is that Punjab is very close to Delhi. The noise of the political corridors of Delhi is clearly heard in Punjab. AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sensed the opportunity at the right time. He understood that the people of Punjab would not give a chance to the BJP and the Akali Dal. The internal turmoil of the Congress has disappointed the people. In such a situation, you can be the right option for the voters. The people of Punjab liked the work related to education, health, electricity and water supply of the AAP government in Delhi.
3. Making Bhagwant Mann the chief ministerial candidate
At the right time, AAP declared Bhagwant Mann as the chief ministerial face of its party in Punjab. This destroyed the perception among the people of Punjab that AAP was an outside party. Other parties, especially the Congress, failed in this matter. There, Navjot Singh Sidhu, who removed the Captain from the post of Chief Minister, himself was seen opposing Charanjit Singh Channi on several occasions. This made the people of Punjab smart. He saw the Chief Minister of the state in Bhagwant Mann.
4. Outrage with BJP and Akali Dal
People were angry with the Akali Dal, which formed the government in Punjab in 2007 and 2012. The Akali Dal, which contested the 2007 and 2012 elections in association with the BJP, broke ties with the BJP before the elections. People saw opportunism in it. On the other hand, due to the farmers’ agitation, there was a lot of resentment among the people towards the BJP. The people of Punjab had to face many difficulties due to the lack of end of the peasant movement. The result was that people thought it appropriate to distance themselves from both the BJP and the Akali Dal. In Punjab, BJP is leading on 3 seats, while Akali Dal is ahead in 6 seats. The Akali Dal had won 15 seats in the 2017 assembly elections. It is clear from this that the people have rejected the Akali Dal outright.
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