The former Punjab chief minister in his press conference said that he had applied for a party name and a symbol and awaiting the Election Commission’s approval to make a formal announcement
Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh. ANI
In a highly-anticipated press conference, former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh announced that he would launch his new political party and had applied for a party name and a symbol, and an announcement would be made after the Election Commission’s approval.
Singh had last week said he would soon launch his own party, and that he was hopeful of a seat adjustment with the BJP provided the ongoing farmers’ stir against farm laws was resolved in their interest.
“I am forming a party. But I can’t tell you the name right now. When the Election Commission approves a name and symbol, only then I can tell you. Let’s wait for the EC to approve,” he said addressing a press conference in Chandigarh.
Punjab goes to polls early next year.
Captain Amarinder Singh also announced that when the time came, his party would fight on all 117 seats.
In his press conference, Amarinder also stated that several Punjab Congress leaders are in touch with him and they “would come out in the open when the time comes”.
He also used the presser as an opportunity to list out his achievements and hit out at the current dispensation for piggybacking on his accomplishments. He said that he had finished 92 percent of what he had promised while campaigning and that the allegations of not delivering during his rule were untrue.
“All the work we started is simply being carried forward by Channi,” said Amarinder during his presser.
He also spoke of the security situation in Punjab vis-a-vis the Centre’s decision to extend the powers of the Border Security Force in the border state. “I was Punjab Home Minister for 9.5 years. Somebody who has been the home minister for one month seems to say that he knows more than me…Nobody wants a disturbed Punjab. We must understand we have been through very difficult times in Punjab. The Punjab police is a first-class force but it needs assistance. There should be no politics on issues of security, said the former chief minister.
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has constantly been at loggerheads with the Captain, immediately tweeted against him. “We the 78 MLAs of Congress, could never imagine, what we received an arm-twisted, ED controlled BJP loyal Chief Minister of Punjab @capt_amarinder… who sold the interests of Punjab to save his skin. You were the negative force stalling Justice & development of Punjab.”
He also accused Singh of trying to push him out as he “was raising the voice of the people” and warned Amarinder that the people of “Punjab would punish him for compromising on the interests of the state”.
In a final jibe against Amarinder, Sidhu tweeted out, “You will be remembered as Jaichand of Punjab’s Political history, you are truly a spent cartridge.”
When asked what he thought of Sidhu’s tweets, Singh retorted: “He knows nothing, talks too much, doesn’t have brains.”
Amarinder Singh had quit from the position of chief minister on 18 September after alleging that he had been “humiliated”. The Congress then replaced Amarinder Singh with Charanjit Singh Channi.
The Congress unit of Punjab has been witnessing turmoil and it seems that the chaos will dent their chances of winning the upcoming Assembly elections where the party hopes to grab on to power.
With inputs from agencies