Byelection win to impact mandate in 2027 Punjab Assembly polls: Mohinder Bhagat

Aparna Banerji

Jalandhar, July 14

“All right things converged at the right place at the right time which yielded good results for us,” says Mohinder Bhagat, the AAP victorious candidate from Jalandhar West on his bypoll win on Sunday as he returned home yesterday to the beat of dhols, bursting of crackers and a house full of supporters (room doors had to be shut as more people could not be accommodated).

It has sent a good message to the public. People feel good with CM’s presence here. Rather than going to Chandigarh, work will be done here. Doaba and Majha people will hugely benefit. Mohinder Bhagat, MLA

The former BJP veteran whose maiden AAP debut yielded historic results in Jalandhar West, on Saturday first sought blessings of his father Chunni Lal Bhagat, former state cabinet minister (in Akali-BJP government). Then he prioritised informality and offered generous hugs to party workers who were waiting eagerly in the drawing room. He said the Jalandhar bypoll result will definitely impact the mandate in 2027, in favour of AAP.

Since yesterday, Bhagat has also been on a whirlwind tour of religious shrines, visiting a Valmiki temple, Kabir and Guru Ravidass temples and the Laxmi Narayan temple and paying obeisance at the Gurdwara Chevi Patshahi today, also flagging off a bus to Amarnath.

Speaking to The Tribune on his victory, Bhagat said, “I thank voters and CM Punjab Bhagwant Mann who himself along with his family worked hard for the party and its candidate. Also ministers, chairmen and volunteers worked hard. Teamwork yields good results. Due to CM Sahib’s hard work and service, people have placed their trust in us. Mann Sahib has issued a message, he’s a good CM. This will have lasting results in time to come.”

While a Bhagat household member has won from the constituency for the first time after 2012, the winning candidate himself said, “There was a seven-year gap, as my father remained an MLA from 2012 until 2017. It’s all a part of change. Time comes full circle. All right things converged at the right place at the right time. The party got a good candidate. The party’s works benefited it in polls. On the other hand, people were bad and not doing well. All these factors favoured us.”

Responding to the ire of AAP leaders directed at the BJP and its candidate Sheetal Angural after bypoll win, Bhagat said, “A new candidate has won with over 37,000 votes. I want to talk about myself and improve myself. I don’t want to find fault with others.”

On the reversal of voting pattern in Jalandhar West within a month, compared to Lok Sabha poll, he said, “It’s evident that Lok Sabha and assembly polls are different and can’t be compared. This vote is for the government’s works. The public clearly hoped for an MLA from the government.”

On CM’s Jalandhar shift, Bhagat said, “It has sent a good message to people. People feel good with his presence here. Rather than going to Chandigarh, work will be done here. Doaba and Majha people will hugely benefit.”

On speculations of a ministerial berth, he says, “I did my duty and fought with honesty. The result is also favourable. The rest is the prerogative of the honourable CM. If he has publicly declared it already, nothing’s left to ask or do.”