Arvind Kejriwal reduced Bhagwant Mann to a rubber stamp: Bikram Majithia

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia said on Sunday that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had been reduced to a rubber stamp with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal announcing that party’s candidate Sanjeev Arora would be made a minister in case he wins the byelection.

The SAD leader was addressing a press conference along with senior leader Sikandar Singh Maluka, whose homecoming he welcomed, and said it was a signal that Akali leaders were heeding the call of Punjabis to unite and speak about the state.

Majithia said AAP was losing as Punjabis had realised that the Delhi model had failed and had nothing to offer to them. “The state is witnessing a financial emergency with the government calling back all funds from various departments to save itself from defaulting on loans. It has resulted in a complete halt to all development work,” he said.

Majithia also highlighted how each section of society had been cheated in the AAP regime.

In a major boost to the SAD campaign in the Ludhiana West constituency on Sunday, the Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle extended its support to the party and candidate Parupkar Singh Ghuman. The development occurred after SAD president Sukhbir Badal held a detailed meeting with office- bearers of Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle here. Shiromani Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami and senior Delhi-based leader Manjit Singh GK were also part of the meeting. It witnessed Gurmeet Singh of the Study Circle and other members giving suggestions on how the SAD could be strengthened further. They also talked about the need to safeguard Sikh institutions and ensure there was no outside interference in their functioning. Sukhbir said the party had taken a strong stand on autonomy of Sikh institutions and resisted any interference in their functioning as well as their management structure. — TNS