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AAP: Will give tough competition to Cong, BJP

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Surender Rathee, Haryana AAP spokesperson, Prem Garg,Chandigarh AAP president and Ranjit Uppal, Panchkula district AAP president
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Tribune News Service

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Panchkula, September 2

Having announced its decision to contest all 90 seats in the Haryana Assembly elections independently, the Aam Aadmi Party’s following and vote-share in the state, especially in largely-urban Assembly segments of Panchkula district, is a subject matter worth pondering over.

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AAP has been present in the district for the last five years after its miserable debacle gathering less than 1 per cent votes on all 46 seats it had contested in the 2019 Assembly elections. But local AAP leaders consider the upcoming elections their first contest and are confident they will give a tight competition to their rival, the Congress and the BJP on the basis of the party’s ‘guarantees’.

Surender Rathee, AAP Haryana spokesperson, said, “The party is campaigning on the basis of its ‘five guarantees’. The provisions of free electricity and mohalla clinics for health facilities in both adjoining Punjab and Delhi have benefited the people on a large scale. I have visited Panchkula’s villages adjoining Punjab where they appreciated AAP’s promises delivered in Punjab. People align well with the party’s announcement of Rs 1,000 for women every month, better government schools and employment for the youth.”

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He said the rival parties had failed to bringing industries to Panchkula and ensure cleanliness. “People are joining the party during campaigns in villages. Now people prefer AAP with clean intentions as it works in their interest.”

Chandigarh AAP president Prem Garg also has his eye on the ticket from Panchkula. He says, “Panchkula is a hot seat due to its proximity to Chandigarh. We are also here with full preparation. The BJP is facing anti-incumbency after years of failure to deliver on its promises. Therefore, we will have a direct contest with the Congress.”

Garg considers the elections as the party’s fresh entry into the Assembly elections. “We will contest all 90 Assembly seats for the first time, so this is our fresh entry. We have been working on the ground for five years and will perform exceptionally just like in Delhi and Punjab where AAP grabbed majority seats and formed the state governments.”

He said apart from the party’s five guarantees, they have specific Panchkula-centric problems in mind. “We want to solve these issues,especially that of sewerage, water supply in slum colonies, and provide better schools and playgrounds. We are getting a positive response.”

AAP district Panchkula president Ranjit Uppal, who has been active for nine years wants to contest from Kalka. He said, “We have formed 11-member teams at all 225 booths in the Kalka Assembly segment. In addition, we have appointed 78 office- bearers, including block presidents, circle in-charges and others as well.”

Expressing certainty of making it a three-cornered contest, he said, “Even according to surveys of government agencies, our anticipated vote share in Kalka is more than 25,000 votes, apart from thousands of silent voters. We became active after Sunita Kejriwal’s visit after which more people are joining the party as we are spreading the party’s messages of guarantee cards to all houses.” The leaders said the party was expected to roll out the names of its candidates within the next three-four days.

Panchkula a hot seat due to proximity to Chandigarh

Panchkula is a hot seat due to its proximity to Chandigarh. We are also here with full preparation. The BJP is facing anti-incumbency after years of failure to deliver on its promises. Therefore, we will have a direct contest with the Congress. — Prem Garg, president, AAP, Chandigarh

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