Chandigarh: As by-poll approaches, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal has been focusing on "Sangat darshan" programme to influence the Dhuri voters. Dhuri, in Sangrur district has caught the fancy of Badal, especially after the Assembly seat fell vacant following the resignation by sitting Congress MLA Arvind Khanna.
Accompanied by Akali Dal secretary general Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, MLA, Iqbal Singh Jhunda and other officials, the Chief Minister organised his favourite event at Bhasaur, Banbhouri, Belewal Darogewal, Eesra, Loharmajra, Eesi, Their Jattan and Dandogal villages, where he announced grants worth millions of rupees, an official release said.
By-election to the Dhuri Assembly seat is vital for the ruling Akali Dal, whose relationship with the alliance partner, BJP, is in the doldrums. In the 117-member House, the Akali Dal is just one short of a simple majority to ensure the safety of the government, while the BJP has 12 members. Meanwhile, Congress spokesman and former MLA, Sukhpal Singh Khaira has written to the Election Commission of India, to restrain Badal from using the programme to influence the voters at the cost of the public exchequer. He demanded that Badal’s “sangat darshan” be videographed.
Meanwhile, Badal said that the “sangat darshan” being conducted in Dhuri assembly constituency was not associated to any politics, rather the State Government was driven by an aim to deliver fruits of development and prosperity at the doorsteps of the citizens. He said that “sangat darshan” programme was the best way to redress the people’s grievances at a single platform besides ensuring unbridled development in a democratic set up by bridging the communication gap between government and the masses.
Addressing people from different villages of the Dhuri assembly segment, Badal said that it has been decided to hold a “sangat darshan” programme in one assembly segment of Majha and Doaba regions each, and two constituencies of Malwa every month. He denied that the Dhuri programme was related to the impending election in the constituency after its MLA had resigned.
