Now, Jarnail blames Mann for poll defeat

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, April 26

Close on the heels of state AAP leaders blaming the Delhi leadership for party’s debacle in the Assembly elections, former Rajouri Garden (Delhi) MLA Jarnail Singh today took on Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, saying his drinking habits damaged the party’s image.

Jarnail Singh had lost the Lambi seat to former CM Parkash Singh Badal.

He said: “Mann’s alcoholism (drinking habits) caused damage to the party. It was one of the reasons of the party’s defeat. The rival parties exploited videos showing him drunk.Even Arvind Kejriwal had tried to counsel him.” Mann had yesterday said bringing Jarnail Singh to Punjab was a questionable decision because it added to the confusion regarding the party’s CM face. Replying to this, Jarnail said: “Fielding me from Lambi was the party’s decision. In fact, Mann had proposed my name.”

Kultar Singh, AAP MLA from Kotkapura, said: “Mann should not have given any statement to the media and discussed the issues within the party.”