CHANDIGARH: After AAP announced him as its chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming polls, Bhagwant Mann told TOI’s Vibhor Mohan that now Congress should try and announce its own chief ministerial face by choosing one from multiple claimants in the state leadership. He also retorted to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for taking a dig at AAP for conducting the programme to announce his name in Hindi.
Do you think the announcement of the CM face brightens AAP’s poll prospects?
It will definitely help. Why doesn’t the Congress name its CM face now? So far, they have been questioning us, asking who AAP’s groom is. I don’t believe in this phrase as I will go to the people as their son and brother and nephew, not as a groom. Now, they should tell the people who is their CM face – (Navjot Singh) Sidhu, (Charanjit Singh) Channi, (Sukhjinder Singh)Randhawa, (Partap Sinhg) Bajwa, (Sunil) Jakhar? Who?
How would you respond to the Akalis questioning the function, to announce your name, being conducted in Hindi, and not Punjabi?
(SAD president) Sukhbir Badal is someone who doesn’t know Punjabi language like I do. He is from Sanawar (Lawrence School) and I am from Satoj (village).
Your support base in Malwa has helped AAP in the previous elections. How do you plan to extend it to Majha and Doaba this time?
Take my word, this time there will be competition between the three regions of Punjab to send the maximum number of AAP MLAs to the Vidhan Sabha. Jhadu pure Punjab wich fir reha (broom is sweeping the entire Punjab). This time it will not be region-wise or community-wise. We will get an absolute majority for a strong government.
You had done whirlwind tours of the state ahead of the 2017 assembly polls. How is the digital campaigning going this time?
You should see my Facebook page. We (AAP) are experts at using social media for messaging and also for door-to-door campaigning. We will follow the EC guidelines and they suit us well.
How would you react to rivals’ ‘drinking problem’ charge?
It is an old thing. After that people have elected me twice to the Lok Sabha, AAP has been voted (to power) in Delhi. Look at my performance as MP in the Lok Sabha.
Do you think AAP giving clarity over you being the CM nominee will work?
The way people celebrated today is what you see when a party wins the elections. It is indicative of the fact that people of Punjab have made up their mind to vote in AAP this time. They know that their choice has been named by the party. In a way, people have given their verdict.
Do you think the announcement of the CM face brightens AAP’s poll prospects?
It will definitely help. Why doesn’t the Congress name its CM face now? So far, they have been questioning us, asking who AAP’s groom is. I don’t believe in this phrase as I will go to the people as their son and brother and nephew, not as a groom. Now, they should tell the people who is their CM face – (Navjot Singh) Sidhu, (Charanjit Singh) Channi, (Sukhjinder Singh)Randhawa, (Partap Sinhg) Bajwa, (Sunil) Jakhar? Who?
How would you respond to the Akalis questioning the function, to announce your name, being conducted in Hindi, and not Punjabi?
(SAD president) Sukhbir Badal is someone who doesn’t know Punjabi language like I do. He is from Sanawar (Lawrence School) and I am from Satoj (village).
Your support base in Malwa has helped AAP in the previous elections. How do you plan to extend it to Majha and Doaba this time?
Take my word, this time there will be competition between the three regions of Punjab to send the maximum number of AAP MLAs to the Vidhan Sabha. Jhadu pure Punjab wich fir reha (broom is sweeping the entire Punjab). This time it will not be region-wise or community-wise. We will get an absolute majority for a strong government.
You had done whirlwind tours of the state ahead of the 2017 assembly polls. How is the digital campaigning going this time?
You should see my Facebook page. We (AAP) are experts at using social media for messaging and also for door-to-door campaigning. We will follow the EC guidelines and they suit us well.
How would you react to rivals’ ‘drinking problem’ charge?
It is an old thing. After that people have elected me twice to the Lok Sabha, AAP has been voted (to power) in Delhi. Look at my performance as MP in the Lok Sabha.
Do you think AAP giving clarity over you being the CM nominee will work?
The way people celebrated today is what you see when a party wins the elections. It is indicative of the fact that people of Punjab have made up their mind to vote in AAP this time. They know that their choice has been named by the party. In a way, people have given their verdict.
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