Stakes high on CM’s turf

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi, January 15

With PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh announcing to take on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal from the latter’s home turf Lambi, political activity has hot up in this segment.

AAP MP Bhagwant Mann today held a roadshow in favour of party candidate Jarnail Singh, while Badal is scheduled to address back-to-back public meetings starting tomorrow.

Sources said Badal had assigned the task to oversee his election campaign to close relatives Major Bhupinder Singh and Paramjit Singh Lali Badal. The Congress camp is upbeat with Amarinder’s decision to contest from Lambi. Some party men even celebrated at Killianwali village. Poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s team has started an online campaign, “Chalo Lambi”, asking activists to register their names and cellphone numbers. Party sources said Amarinder, who would file nomination from Lambi on Wednesday, was likely to set up his camp office at the residence of Maheshinder Singh Badal at Badal village.

Mann, during his roadshow, again said both Congress and SAD were hand in glove. “Badal has told Amarinder to file nomination from Lambi, but don’t fight for the seat. Why Amarinder doesn’t contest from Jalalabad or Majitha, because he knows Badal is already losing his constituency to our Jarnail Singh.”

AAP nominee Jarnail Singh said: “It is a golden opportunity for me to defeat both Badal and Amarinder together.”

Badal’s brother to back Amarinder

Abohar: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s younger brother Gurdas Singh Badal has said he would support PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh in Lambi. He said health issues won’t stop him from campaigning. The brothers had parted ways after Gurdas’ son Manpreet Badal floated the People’s Party of Punjab in 2011. OC