New Delhi: For the first time in the history of Punjab, with the entry of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Assembly election in the state has become a triangular match with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress being the other two players.
Talking about political developments in Punjab, the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party Arvind Kejriwal in an exclusive interview with ABP News channel said, Congress' Chief Ministerial candidate "Captain Amarinder Singh will get defeated by a big margin".
On being asked that Sanjay Singh from Sultanpur (UP) is being targeted by Congress for not being a native of Punjab, Arvind Kejriwal took a jibe asking-"Is Rahul Gandhi born in Jalalabad (Punjab)? Is Sonia Gandhi born in Punjab?"
Sanjay Singh is AAP's Punjab head.
"Congress is full of unrest," Delhi CM added.
"Why there was a need to declare CM candidate just one week before election in Punjab? They are afraid that they will lose," he said.
"Even if Capt declared PM candidate, nothing will happen, people in Punjab have made up their mind. Now they want a clean party like AAP," Kejriwal said.
"We will not declare CM candidate before the election. All MLAs will decide on the CM candidate," he clarified and added-"We will defeat all the major opposition candidates in the Punjab."
"Punjab is in debt because of the corruption of ruling Badal party. Badals have looted Punjab. We will send them to jail and recover money from them," AAP's national convener said.
While talking about issues in Punjab, Kejriwal said, the biggest problems in Punjab is that of drug, corruption, unemployment.
On being asked about Navjot Singh Sidhu he said, "We had offered him deputy CM post but now, when he has joined Congress, he is denying it."
Talking about food, AAP leader said, we will not only increase the quantity of wheat and pulses for the people of Punjab but will also improve its quality.
Punjab election:
The Punjab legislative assembly election will be held on 4th February 2017 to select the 117 members. The results of the election will be announced on 11th March. The current ruling coalition is Shiromani Akali Dal - Bharatiya Janata Party alliance led by Parkash Singh Badal.
Rahul's Punjab programme rescheduled
Meanwhile, in a different but related incident Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's programme for January 29 has been rescheduled to February 2, the last day for electioneering in Punjab.
"The change in programme has been necessitated by some pressing engagements in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh," a party release said.
Rahul will now address his joint rally with Punjab Congress President and party's chief ministerial candidate Amarinder Singh in Lambi, as well as Gidderbaha, on February 2, instead of January 29.
Amarinder is taking on Akali stalwart and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in his home turf of Lambi in what he has termed the "grandfather of all battles".