Punjab Election: ‘Beware Of Fake Kejriwal’ Says AAP Chief, Promises To Give Women Rs 1,000/Month

With the elections nearing, the political back and forth between parties in Punjab, as in other poll-bound states, has intensified. 

New Delhi: While in Punjab on a two-day visit, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday alleged that a “fake Kejriwal” is roaming in the state, repeating the poll promises he makes for the upcoming election.

In view of the 2022 Assembly elections, the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday arrived in the poll-bound state on a two-day visit to launch his ‘Mission Punjab’.

Addressing a public meeting in Moga, Arvind Kejriwal said: “In Punjab, a fake Kejriwal is roaming. Whatever I promise here, he repeats the same. In the entire country, only one man, Kejriwal, can bring down your electricity bill to zero. So beware of that fake Kejriwal”, news agency ANI reported.

The comment comes as several months back, long power cuts caused by production shortage became a major issue in Punjab. Electricity has been a major concern and recently, the Punjab government had lowered the tariff for domestic use claiming that that state now has the lowest electricity rates in the country.  

Besides this, in his poll promises for the state, Arvind Kejriwal declared: “If we form government in Punjab in 2022, then we will give every woman of the state, who is above 18 years of age, Rs 1,000 per month. If a family has three female members then each will get Rs 1,000. This will be the world's biggest women empowerment program”.

He also stated that elderly women who are getting an old-age pension will continue to get that in addition to the Rs 1,000 to be credited into their accounts, news agency PTI reported.

On the other hand, Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu had earlier in the day hit out at AAP chief over the issue of subsidy to farmers. 

“We are giving Rs 8000 crore subsidy to farmers. Tell me which other state is giving so much subsidy. Ask Arvind Kejriwal which subsidy he is giving to farmers”: Navjot Singh Sidhu said in Ludhiana.

Later in the evening, Arvind Kejriwal is also scheduled to visit Ludhiana where he will speak to auto drivers.

With the elections nearing, the political back and forth between parties in Punjab, as in other poll-bound states, has intensified. 

AAP, being a major challenger for the ruling Congress party, is stepping up the campaign with Arvind Kejriwal scheduled to visit various places in Punjab in the next one month to announce the party’s programmes for the state and its people.

In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress won an absolute majority in the state by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government after 10 years. Aam Aadmi Party emerged as the second-largest party winning 20 seats in the 117-member Punjab Legislative Assembly. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) could only manage to win 15 seats while the BJP secured three seats. 

(With Agency Inputs)