Punjab Front fields ex-MLA Jodhan from Dakha

Gurvinder Singh

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 11

The Punjab Front declared former MLA Tarsem Jodhan as their candidate from the Dakha Assembly constituency today.

Members of Dr Dharamvir Gandhi-led party said they would never let Punjab be ruled by an outsider. Speaking on Manish Sisodia’s remarks of Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister, they said people of Punjab would never allow an outsider to become the CM of the state.

Jodhan said indication of Arvind Kejriwal as CM was a challenge to the pride and self-esteem of every Punjabi. “They think Punjab has turned into a political desert. Punjabis have rich history and legacy. We have fought during Independence struggle, have been feeding the whole country, and now they are trying to say that we don’t have political leadership to rule the state,” he said.

“Punjab has leaders and we can rule and govern ourselves,” he added.

He said AAP was trying to depoliticise Punjab and those having political experience were being ousted to bring outsiders to the forefront in the party.

Prof Santokh Singh, another member of the party, said capable and educated people in AAP had been deliberately sidelined and ticket was given either to the corrupt or undeserving people, who can approve of policies of the outsiders in the party.

When asked about being pitted against Manpreet Singh Ayali from the SAD and HS Phoolka from AAP from Dakha, Tarsem Jodhan said though Ayali had got playgrounds constructed, the constituency had deeper problems, including drugs, oppression of the poor and unemployment. Phoolka had left the state after he lost the Lok Sabha elections, saying that he would rather fight court cases.