Mann Endorses AAP for Jalandhar West By-Election, Critiques Rivals

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged voters in the Jalandhar West assembly segment to support AAP candidate Mohinder Bhagat. He criticised the Congress and BJP nominees during his campaign. The byelection, triggered by Sheetal Angural's resignation from AAP, is scheduled for July 10, with vote counting on July 13.

Mann accused BJP candidate Sheetal Angural of betraying Jalandhar West voters. Angural switched to BJP after leaving AAP earlier this year. "Nowadays, the BJP is the first choice of the corrupt leaders," alleged Mann.

Congress and SAD Criticism

The chief minister also targeted Congress candidate Surinder Kaur. He questioned her ability to deliver results, citing her tenure as Jalandhar's deputy mayor. "When she could not get any work done while being the deputy mayor of Jalandhar, then how will she get the work of the assembly constituency done," Mann stated.

Mann highlighted that municipal tasks like streets, drains, and sewerage fall under the municipal corporation's purview. He pointed out that Jalandhar's current Congress mayor has not accomplished anything significant.

Additionally, Mann criticised Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for its internal conflicts. He noted that SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal withdrew support from their official candidate and endorsed the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) nominee instead.

New Office in Doaba Region

Mann announced plans to open an office in the Doaba region to better serve residents of Doaba and Majha. "One good thing that happened in this byelection was that finally I am successful in implementing that plan and set up my office here," he said.

The chief minister has rented a house in Jalandhar for this purpose. He assured that he would be available at least two days a week to address local issues directly. "Now people will not have to go to Chandigarh to get their work done. Now the government itself is at your doorstep," Mann added.

Mann's campaign included several public meetings where he urged voters to ensure Bhagat's victory in the upcoming bypoll. According to a party statement, he emphasised the importance of electing a representative who can effectively address local concerns.

The SAD had initially decided to support a BSP candidate instead of their own official nominee. This decision followed internal disagreements within SAD, leading to two panel members rebelling against party chief Badal.

In summary, Mann's campaign focused on criticising opposition candidates and highlighting his plans for local governance improvements. He stressed the need for effective representation and promised better accessibility for constituents through his new office in Jalandhar.