Punjab Elections 2022: Rahul Gandhi urges voters to give 5 years to Channi

AAP leader Raghav Chadha on Thursday hit out at rival political parties for their attempts to “defame” Arvind Kejriwal and stop his party from coming to power in Punjab. Chadha, who is MLA from Rajinder Nagar in Delhi, said for the past few days, leaders of the Congress, the Shiromani Akali Dal, and the BJP are constantly attacking Aam Aadmi Party national convener Kejriwal through their statements. “All the parties came together to stop the AAP from forming the government in Punjab.
As part of the conspiracy, Congress, BJP and Akali leaders are continuously giving false statements and spreading disinformation to defame Arvind Kejriwal,” he said in a statement here.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called Prime Minister Narendra Modi "bade miyan" and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal "chote miyan" on Thursday, and said their governance is only visible in advertisements. She also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of using religion and sentiments for political gains.

Hitting out at Congress leader Harish Rawat, the BJP said that he is more concerned about becoming Chief Minister than serving the people of Uttarakhand. Recently Rawat had said that he would be either Chief Minister or sit at home. Uttarakhand BJP spokesperson Ravinder Jugran told IANS that it indicates that Rawat is more focused on becoming chief minister and least interested about issues concerning people of state. "It also shows that through such comments Rawat is also threatening Congress 'high command' and people that he will not serve the state if he is not made chief minister," Jugran said.

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused the rival parties of collusion and claimed their only aim is to prevent his party from coming to power in Punjab. He alleged the SAD, Congress and the BJP have come together to defeat the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab Assembly elections. They fear if the AAP comes to power it will put an end to the "loot" that these parties have been carrying out in the state, Kejriwal claimed. He appealed to the people, that if all the parties are "colluding to defeat our honest politics, then you should unite to defeat their politics of loot and corruption".

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday described the BJP's claim of bringing stability to poll-bound Manipur as "hollow" and its zero-tolerance policy towards drugs as a "joke". Releasing the manifesto earlier in the day, BJP national president JP Nadda asserted that under the leadership of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the state has headed towards development in the last five years, tackling the drug menace and achieving stability with rule of law being established. Ramesh told reporters that the Manipur government website informs people that only 47 per cent of the state's eligible population have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, which is among the lowest in the country. He claimed that this proves the failure of the BJP government in the North-eastern state where assembly elections will be held in two phases on February 28 and March 5.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged voters of Punjab to give five years to Charanjit Singh Channi, whom he called a dynamic leader, by ensuring that the party retains power in the state. Gandhi also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on several issues and asserted that it was the Channi-led 111-day government which has taken several “pro-people” decisions. Addressing a poll rally at Bassi Pathana, 35 km from here, Gandhi said the chairmanships of several boards and corporations in the state will be given to Congress workers and not to the sons of legislators, if his party returns to power after the February 20 assembly polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the dynasts of UP had termed the covid vaccine as the BJP's vaccine and they always question the country’s achievements. Addressing a rally in UP’s Fatehpur, Modi said only two entities are afraid of the vaccine—coronavirus and the ones who oppose it. The PM also predicted the BJP win in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, saying people have made up their mind to celebrate Holi on March 10, referring to the day of counting.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and former chief minister Mayawati on Thursday hit out at political opponents terming them anti-development and facilitators of injustice, and promised that her party will reinstate the rule of law and prevent migration of the youth for jobs on coming to power.“We are fighting to form a majority government like in 2007 to get rid of the casteist, narrow-minded, arrogant and dictatorial rule of the BJP. You will have to support BSP, the only party that cares for all sections of the society, to ensure this,” Mayawati said addressing an election rally in Banda. The BSP formed its government in 2007 assembly elections with 206 seats but its seat count reduced to 80 in 2012 elections and further to just 19 seats in 2017 election.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called the opposition parties "selfish" for opposing triple talaq, saying they don’t think for the good of even those who vote for them. "When the government made a law against triple talaq, then the whole 'kunba' (opposition) stood against it," the PM said addressing an election rally in UP’s Fatehpur.

The architect of the movement against the national emergency in the 1970s, Jayaprakash Narayan's (JP) soul will never tolerate corruption, Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai said on Thursday, while commenting on the recent conviction of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad in a fodder scam-related case. The biggest achievement of the Central government over the last 80 months was the absence of any corruption-related allegations against its members, Pillai said, adding that the intolerance to corruption at the highest level will spread to the lower levels of governance.

Charging Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with colluding with separatist forces to attain power, the Youth Congress said Punjab will never accept separatist forces. Youth Congress members tried to take out a march but were stopped by the police just outside their office at Raisina Road. Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV said: "Kejriwal wanted to become the Prime Minister by separating Punjab from India, by colluding with the separatists."

The BJP on Thursday accused the Aam Aadmi Party of working to cause fissures between the Hindus and Sikhs in Punjab in its bid to capture power in the state, and cited lack of Sikh representation in the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in the national capital to attack it. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta also alleged that the AAPs agenda is to "loot" Punjab and likened it to the East India Company which wants to grab power in the state by making all sorts of promises. At a press conference, they accused Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal and other AAP leaders of making false claims in their campaign for the Punjab assembly polls and said the "Delhi model" highlighted by the regional party is a sham.
 

The people of Uttar Pradesh have determined to hold colourful celebrations of victory on 10th March, ahead of Holi: PM Narendra Modi at a public rally in Fatehpur. 

These people (opposition ) even opposed banning of triple talaq. Should I not think of the welfare of women of the country?...Parivaarwadi's are scared that their vote bank is vanishing as Modi is providing poor facilities like health schemes, houses, toilets etc: PM in poll rally in UP's Fatehpur

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday sought to clear the air over his 'bhaiya' comment that has stoked a major controversy in the poll-bound state. He said that his comment was taken out of context by the rival parties leaders and he didn't insult the migrants. 

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb would hit the BJP's campaign trail in Manipur on Friday. Deb, who is currently in Delhi, is scheduled to campaign for the party in Manipur and return on Saturday, a BJP leader in Agartala said. "The chief minister will address a few rallies and take part in roadshows in Manipur," the party leader said on Thursday. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhoumik, an MP from Tripura, has been extensively campaigning for the party in poll-bound Manipur for the past two weeks, he said. Earlier, BJP's Tripura unit president Manik Saha campaigned for the party in the poll-bound state.  Manipur will vote in two phases on February 28 and March 5. The votes will be counted on March 10.

The BJP hit back at Congress leader Harish Rawat for his recent remark that he would either be chief minister or sit at home, saying he does not have the patience to wait for the poll verdict and is building castles in the air. "His impatience shows he entered the poll battle just to grab the chief minister's chair and has nothing to do with public concerns," state BJP media in-charge Manveer Chauhan said. The Congress' "greed for power" has reached such a level that the fight for the chief minister's post has begun in the party even when the poll verdict is still sealed in the EVMs, he said. "Even before the poll verdict is out, Rawat has begun to build castles in the air," Chauhan added. Though the Congress made Rawat its poll campaign head for Uttarakhand, it did not declare him its chief ministerial candidate. Rawat's chief ministerial ambition, however, is not hidden from anyone. He recently told a TV channel that he would "either be chief minister or sit at home". On Rawat's remark, former Uttarakhand Congress chief Pritam Singh said the choice of the chief minister is the prerogative of the party high command, and its decision will be accepted by all.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lashed out at Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi over his controversial remark directed at the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Addressing an election rally in Abohar ahead of February 20 polling, PM Modi said that Congress is resorting to the politics of divide and rule. He said that the Punjab Chief Minister has insulted the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, adding that such people have no right to rule. The Prime Minister noted that Guru Gobind Singh (tenth Sikh Guru) was born in Patna and Saint Ravidas was born in Kashi (Uttar Pradesh). FULL STORY 

The BJP had been in power for more than seven years and was still blaming first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the problems of the people, former prime minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh said on Thursday in a scathing attack against the Modi-led government. Targeting the Central government on a host of issues, including the farmers' agitation, foreign policy, price rise and unemployment, Singh said ahead of the Punjab elections on February 20 that the BJP's nationalism was based on the British policy of divide and rule. The Congress played the message delivered in Punjabi at a press conference in Chandigarh.

Do they know how much is the contribution of people of Bihar in Punjab and how many are living (there)?... I am stunned how people make such statements: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi's reported remark 'Don't let UP, Bihar ke bhaiya enter Punjab'

Addressing an election rally in Punjab's Fazilka, PM Modi alleged that Congress has always betrayed farmers. He also claimed that the BJP government has made record procurements from farmers.

PM Modi said that small traders are facing problems in Punjab because of the mafia raj.

We gave vaccines without any biases to everyone along with ration because our aim is Sabka Sath Sabka Vikaas: UP CM Yogi Adityanath at a rally in Jhansi

Everyone has come to know that SP & its allies have hit a century in first 2 phases. After 3rd & 4th phase of elections itself, Samajwadi Party government will be formed. By the seventh phase, silence will prevail at BJP booths & you'll find ghosts there: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

 Percentage of women voters 4.60% more than men. Of the total 65.37%  polling in the state, 67.20% women voted, while 62.60% men voted: Uttarakhand CEO

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress, on Wednesday sought clarification from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on a statement made by former AAP member Kumar Vishwas, terming it as very sensitive. Vishwas in an interview has spoken about his and Kejriwal's conversations during the 2017 Assembly elections in Punjab. Vishwas had warned Kejriwal in 2017 against increasing Khalistani separatists. A complaint lodged in this connection by Congress leader Sandip Dikshit at a police station Mohali read that Kejriwal had ignored the warnings, and had said that he will manage them. Kharge said, "Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal must clarify on the statement made by his party founder Kumar Vishwas. Punjab is a very sensitive state where maintaining peace is of paramount importance. Kejriwal must show maturity and sensitivity when talking about a border state like Punjab." "Kejriwal accepted that he was in contact with separatists for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections in 2017," Dikshit said in his complaint.

Firebrand BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has denounced his Punjab counterpart Charanjit Singh Channi's remarks directed at the people of UP and Bihar. Adityanath condemned Channi's 'unfortunate' remark and promised that people from UP will not have to migrate to other states to earn their livelihood. FULL STORY 

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday attacked Samajwadi Party, saying "kattas” (locally-made pistols) were commonly made during its government, but under BJP they will be replaced by Brahmos missiles. Addressing election rallies in Malihabad (Lucknow) and Babupurva (Kanpur), the union minister said such a missile is now going to be made in Lucknow, as can be fired at the enemy from 400-600 kms away. Praising Jai Devi, the BJP candidate from Malihabad seat, and her husband Union Minister Kaushal Kishor, the Minister said Lucknow will see the manufacture of big guns ("goli nahi gola")now.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday condemned the state government over the grant of bail to union minister Ajay Mishra's son in Lakhimpur case, saying he would ensure that the culprit and his protectors go to prison when he comes to power. "The minister's son who trampled farmers has got bail from court. The government did not pursue the case as it should have been. “SP assures you all that our government is coming and when it does, the case will be pursued in such a manner that not only the one who took the life of farmers will go to jail but also those patronizing them," Akhilesh said addressing an election meeting in Auraiya. READ FULL STORY 

Union Minister and BJP's candidate SP Singh Baghel, who is contesting election against Akhilesh Yadav in latter's stronghold Karhal seat, has blamed the Samajwadi Party for an attack on his convoy. The BJP leader also compared Akhilesh Yadav with Aurangzeb saying he is doing the same with his father Mulayam Singh Yadav as to what Aurangzeb did to Shahjahan. FULL STORY 

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that the BJP will repeat its 2017 performance in the Uttar Pradesh assembly election. Speaking to India TV in an exclusive conversation, Rajnath Singh spoke about BJP's performance in the first two phases. He said the party's performance will be almost similar to 2017. READ FULL STORY 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called the AAP a photocopy of the Congress, alleging that both parties are pretending to fight against each other in the Punjab Assembly elections. Listing similarities between the two parties, he claimed both of them opposed the Ram temple in Ayodhya and they speak the "language of Pakistan" when Indian soldiers show their valour. Addressing a rally in Pathankot ahead of the February 20 elections, Modi also said the Congress had committed a "sin" by failing to keep Kartarpur Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, within India's territory at the time of the Partition. He urged voters to bring the BJP-led alliance to power in Punjab for the all-round development of the state. Taking on the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, Modi said, "Both these parties, despite being 'ek thali ke chatte batte' (two sides of the same coin), are now together doing 'noora kushti' (pretending to fight) in Punjab. Have you seen WWF? This is what they are doing. They are pretending to be rivals." "It is a Xerox copy of the Congress. Everything is the same," he said referring to the AAP. Modi said, "The truth is that if the Congress is the original, then the second party (AAP) is its photocopy." READ FULL STORY 

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday appealed to the people of Punjab to bring the BJP-led alliance to power for the state's overall development. The Minister for Women and Child Development said only a BJP-led government can ensure the border state’s overall development and security. Asking the people to vote for her party on February 20, Irani assured a massive infrastructure development to revive Punjab’s economy at a cost of Rs one lakh crore over the next five years. She listed several achievements of the central government in various sectors. Without naming Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, Irani said the Congress leader went to Pakistan and claimed that the neighbouring country’s Prime Minister Imran Khan was his good friend. He also hugged the Pakistan army chief General Bajwa, thereby “hurting the sentiments of the people of India”, she said. The minister also targeted the Congress over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday met the chief of Radha Soami Satsang Beas Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon at Beas, around 45 km from Amritsar. Shah, who was in Punjab on Wednesday for a poll rally, took to Twitter to share the information about the meeting. "Today met Radha Soami Satsang chief Baba Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon. The work being done by Radha Soami Satsang Beas for humanity and social service by continuously awakening spiritual consciousness in the society for decades, is wonderful and inspiring in itself," Shah tweeted in Punjabi. A few days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met Gurinder Singh Dhillon in Delhi and had praised the Radha Soami Satsang chief for its social service. Radha Soami Satsang Beas enjoys a considerable following in Punjab. Voting in Punjab will take place on February 20.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday promised to eliminate “Inspector Raj” from the state and provide an industry-friendly atmosphere to the business community if voted to power. He also promised to dismiss all “fake cases” registered by the previous governments by “misusing the police” and separate business from police and politics. “To eliminate the fear of traders, we will completely eliminate 'Inspector Raj, Raid Raj' to provide a safe environment for businesses. Just as we have won the hearts of the traders of Delhi, we will win yours too,” the Delhi chief minister said. Alleging that the politicians from the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal had been intimidating businessmen in the state and lodging false cases against, the AAP convener said such incidents will be eliminated from Punjab after March 10 – the day of vote counting. “After the formation of the AAP government, if any of our MLAs or ministers ask for a share from any businessman, we will take immediate action against that leader,” he said. Taking a dig at the previous regimes, the Delhi chief minister said, “Today, all the people of Punjab are scared because of Akali and Congress’ ‘goonda raj’. The Aam Aadmi Party government will end the 'parcha raj'.

Punjab's chief electoral officer S Karuna Raju on Wednesday held a review meeting with returning officers for the February 20 Assembly elections and directed them to ensure proper arrangements at polling stations following the poll panel's instructions. The chief electoral officer directed officials to ensure the availability of masks, gloves, PPE kits, soaps, thermometers, and sanitisers at every polling station, according to an official release. He also asked the returning officers to ensure that web cameras are working in all polling booths. Raju asked the returning officers to identify five to 10 volunteers for facilitating persons with disability and elderly people at polling booths. He asked them to install selfie points at all the polling booths. He also directed officers to accord a warm welcome to first-time voters and also give them certificates or flowers. For the elderly and persons with disabilities, a pick-and-drop facility should be ensured, the CEO said. The Punjab chief electoral officer also instructed officers to use eco-friendly materials such as paper cups, paper plates and eco-friendly plastic flexes during the polls. Raju asked the returning officer to take special care of women staff and provide them drop facility in case their work gets over late evening. The CEO asked the officials to ensure all the EVM carrying vehicles are equipped with GPS.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi mounted a blistering attack on the BJP in Manipur, accusing the state's ruling party of having disrespected people's mandate, and used "bullying and bribing" as a tool to form the government in the state where the Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the 2017 elections. Promising to pursue "politics of development", she said more jobs will be created in the state whose potential for tourism will be fully utilised. Addressing an election rally in Imphal online, Gandhi also promised to "protect civil liberties and democratic rights" of all people in the militancy-hit state. "You elected the Congress party but got a different government," she said. The 2017 state election had thrown up a hung assembly where neither the Congress nor the BJP had a majority in the 60-member House. Though the Congress came closest to the magic 31 seat mark with 28 MLAs, the BJP pipped it at the post with the help of smaller parties like the NPP of Conrad Sangma and the Naga People's Front, besides some others.

In a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said while the BJP believes in "development for all", Akhilesh Yadav "cares only about the development of the Saifai family". Saifai is the native village of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, the father of party chief Akhilesh Yadav. At a public meeting here, Adityanath said, "The Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress were not there for you during the pandemic. But our government gave free vaccine to everyone and ensured that no one sleeps hungry." He claimed the law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh has improved and lot and there is no place for anarchy in the state. "The BJP believes in 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' whereas the Samajwadi Party chief's slogan is only the development of the Saifai family," Adityanath said.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for sharing stage with Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni, whose son is a key accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Addressing an election campaign in Kanpur, which goes to polls on February 20, the Congress general secretary and its Uttar Pradesh in-charge slammed the BJP-led Centre and the state government for releasing Ashish Mishra, the minister's son, on bail. “The farmers held a protest, but they were mowed down. The minister's son came in his jeep and mowed down six farmers in front of thousands of people. But what did the government do? The PM and the CM share stage with that minister even today and have released their son on bail,” she said.

A complaint has been filed against Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal at a police station in Mohali in Punjab for his alleged collaboration with Khalistani separatists. The complainant, Congress leader Sandeep Dixit, in his complaint quoted an interview former Aam Aadmi Party leader, Kumar Vishwas. As put forth by Dikshit, Vishwas in the interview had spoken about his and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's conversations during the 2017 Assembly elections in Punjab.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said had Narendra Modi been PM at the time India gained Independence, Kartarpur Sahib and Nankana Sahib would have been part of this country. While Kartarpur Sahib is the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, Nankana Sahib is the birthplace of the Sikhism founder. Both these places are now in Pakistan. At a poll rally in Ferozepur, Shah said it was Modi who fulfilled the Sikhs' long-pending demand of opening the Kartarpur Sahib corridor. "Had Narendra Modi been the prime minister when India gained Independence, Kartarpur Sahib and Nankana Sahib would have been part of India and not gone to Pakistan," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two election rallies on Thursday. He will address a rally in Punjab’s Fazilka where polling will take place on February 20. He will address another rally in UP's Fatehpur. (Reporter Devendra Parashar) 

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday took a jibe at Yogi Adityanath, saying he should take care that he does not "wake up in his dreams" and take the Jhansi-Delhi expressway or "ride in the Jhansi Metro" which he had promised after becoming the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

Adityanath was in Jhansi on Wednesday evening to campaign for BJP candidates and also take out a roadshow.

"Babaji who is sleeping in Jhansi should keep in mind... that he should not wake up in his dreams and take up 'hawa hawai' Jhansi-Delhi expressway or ride in the Jhansi Metro, which were false promises that he made to the citizens of Jhansi after becoming the CM," Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi.

Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Anupriya Patel-led Apna Dal (S) announced the names of two more candidates on Wednesday.

Apna Dal is contesting Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in alliance with the BJP. The party is contesting on 18 seats and the names of 17 candidates have been announced so far.

The party released the twelfth list of candidates today. Apna Dal state vice-president Dr Sunil Patel has been fielded from the Rohaniya constituency of Varanasi. The party fielded Dr RK Patel from the Mariahu Assembly seat.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab, Dr. S Karuna Raju on Wednesday issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the last 72 hours before the poll day in Punjab.

Raju said that these instructions have been issued to all the District Election Officers-cum-Deputy Commissioners that they should make necessary arrangements for the third randomization of polling personnel, certificate of formation of polling party, accommodation and food for polling parties and deployment of micro-observers, Video Cameras, Still Cameras, and webcasting at polling stations.

Following a reported remark by Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal related to the safety of Hindus and businessmen in Punjab, state CM Charanjit Singh Channi said that all people are safe under his government and no such communal forces would succeed.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, the party's chief ministerial candidate in poll-bound Punjab, held a roadshow on Tuesday in Jalandhar Cantt assembly constituency.

They visited Sant Guru Ravidas Dham on Ravidas Jayanti earlier. Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal said that the Delhi government was keen on a grand temple of Sri Guru Ravidas to be built in national capital. "We will speak with the Central Government regarding the obstacles," he said.

PM Modi to address election rallies in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh today

Ahead of the third phase of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday slammed Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over the issue of women's safety in Uttar Pradesh during his tenure as Chief Minister and said that criminalization was at its peak during the SP government's tenure.

"Akhilesh Yadav was CM earlier, in those days' women and girls were not even stepping out of their houses because of safety concerns. Criminalization was at its peak. If he comes back to the government that means Criminals are coming back in the government," said Sarma.

"BJP government in last five years gave peace, safety, security, and development," he added.

"Bhagwant Mann (AAP's Punjab CM candidate) is a drunkard and illiterate person. He passed 12th class in three years. How can we give command of Punjab to such a person?" says Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi in Bathinda