Aam Aadmi makes grand opening

ANANDPUR SAHIB: If the number of people present at the political conferences held at Hola Mohalla here on Thursday is an indication of popularity, then it does not augur well for the ruling SAD-BJP alliance. Volunteers and supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party thronged the venue of the party’s conference, held for the first time here, in large numbers.

Aam Aadmi Party's Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur and Fatehgarh Sahib Member of Parliament Harinder Singh Khalsa at the party’s maiden political conference in Anandpur Sahib on Thursday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Tribune News Service

Anandpur Sahib, March 5

If the number of people present at the political conferences held at Hola Mohalla here on Thursday is an indication of popularity, then it does not augur well for the ruling SAD-BJP alliance. Volunteers and supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party thronged the venue of the party’s conference, held for the first time here, in large numbers.

This was despite the fact that no national leader of the party, except Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur and Fathegarh Sahib MP Haridner Singh Khalsa, addressed the gathering.

On the other hand, the venue of SAD (B) situated close to a prime location in the town, near Takht Kesgarh Sahib, had thin presence, which included a majority of senior citizens.

SAD leaders, including Ropar MLA and Punjab Education Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema, had held several meetings of party workers in advance to make the conference a success. Banners of the SAD party, mentioning the presence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, had been installed all across the district many days ahead of the event.

AAP state convener Chhotepur, addressing the gathering, called upon the people of the state to be prepared for the Assembly elections, scheduled to be held in 2017. He promised that AAP winning the elections would end the VIP culture in the state. The smuggling of drugs would be completely stopped within two months if AAP formed the government, he said. Appealing to the people to give the party one chance to govern the state, he said there was a “long queue of people from other parties” to join AAP in Punjab. The party, however, would admit only people with a clean image, he added.

Later, speaking to the media, Chhotepur said Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira’s joining AAP had been finalised. The date would be announced later. To a question on PPP supremo Manpreet Singh Badal joining AAP, the convener said that he had never made a statement in that regard. Nor was there any offer from Manpreet Badal in this regard, Chhotepur said.