Capt helps Cong survive Modi wave : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Capt helps Cong survive Modi wave

CHANDIGARH:Bucking the national trend of massive pro-Narendra Modi wave, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh steered the Congress to a commendable performance in the state, winning eight of the 13 seats with a good margin.

Capt helps Cong survive Modi wave

Congress’ Ravneet Singh Bittu celebrates his victory with party workers in Ludhiana on Thursday. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan



Rajmeet Singh 
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 23

Bucking the national trend of massive pro-Narendra Modi wave, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh steered the Congress to a commendable performance in the state, winning eight of the 13 seats with a good margin.

Establishing himself as the tallest leader in the party who punctured the BJP’s nationalism narrative in the border state to a large extent and countering the two-year anti-incumbency factor, the CM improved the party tally from three in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections to eight this time. 

On the contrary, the Congress’ in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh — where the party was voted to power six months ago — has registered a dismal performance.

Amid Navjot Singh Sidhu’s “friendly-match” jibe, aimed at the Chief Minister, Akali Dal candidates Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat Kaur Badal managed to win the Bathinda and Ferozepur seats, clearly indicating the resurgence of the party, despite the Congress claiming to have decimated the Badals on the emotive sacrilege issue.

In Hoshiarpur, the BSP factor played a disadvantage for the Congress. Similar scenario prevailed in some pockets of Jalandhar and Nawanshahr, though the party won these seats.

Crediting the win to aggressive work by party ministers, MLA and other leaders, Capt Amarinder said overall, the people of Punjab had responded to the government’s development and welfare programmes, including farm debt waiver and employment generation. 

The sacrilege issues certainly worked against the Badals, he said, adding that Hindutva did not impact the polls in Punjab.

Meanwhile, on losing the Bathinda and Gurdaspur seats, The CM said the state Congress would introspect on why three areas in Bathinda proved weak for the party and also why Sunil Jakhar lost to Sunny Deol despite his hard work. “I do not understand people’s preference for a Bollywood star over an experienced leader,” he said, hoping that the Indian democracy would evolve more in coming years.

Talking about Modi, the CM said now that he had won the elections, he should not do anything to destroy India’s secular credentials. Capt Amarinder said he doesn’t agree with the brand of nationalism being promoted by the BJP, as every citizen of India was a nationalist and the nation’s strength lays in its diversity. 

Top News

Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in UP's Banda orders judicial inquiry into death of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari

UP court orders judicial probe into Mukhtar Ansari’s death

The CJM has sought the probe report within a month

‘Heart attack or poisoning’: The life and times of Mukhtar Ansari—crime and politics

‘Heart attack or poisoning’: The life and times of Mukhtar Ansari—crime and politics

Eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh are among the poorest regions...

Alka Rai, widow BJP MLA killed by Mukhtar Ansari, says 'justice has been served', visits Ram Mandir

Alka Rai, widow BJP MLA killed by Mukhtar Ansari, says 'justice has been served', visits Ram Mandir

Alka Rai is the wife of MLA Krishanand Rai, who was shot dea...

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh IT notice of Rs 1,700 crore, say party insiders

Cash-strapped Congress gets fresh I-T notice of Rs 1,800 crore

Ajay Maken addresses a press conference

Special court convicts 7 people in BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case

Special court convicts 7 people in BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case

The proceedings against Atiq Ahmad, his brother and prime ac...


Cities

View All