Bajwa throws hat in the ring from Batala

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Batala, September 11

Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa announced his return to state politics in a big way by addressing meetings of his supporters at as many as eight places on the first day of his scheduled three-day tour of this Assembly seat.

Today’s development means Bajwa has chosen Batala as the seat to contest the Assembly poll. In between his hectic schedule, he also addressed a press conference where he threw a stunner by saying, “Make no mistake, I have come here with the blessings of my party high command”.

SDM Shayari Bhandari, Municipal Corporation Commissioner JS Grewal, SSP Ashwani Kapur, Chairman of Improvement Trust Pawan Kumar Pamma, Chairman of Market Committee Gurvinder Singh and other senior officers were also present. Observers claim their presence clearly indicates that he has the support of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in his endeavour to stake claim to the seat. The development has upset the carefully crafted political calculations of two of his main rivals: Cabinet Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and three-time ex-MLA Ashwani Sekhri.

The MP also made it clear that he had an “emotional attachment”with Batala and Batalvis which is why he has decided to return to the city and nowhere else.

His term as an RS MP is ending in April next year, barely weeks after the poll results will be out. His entry into state politics was imminent and the only speculation was the name of the seat he would select to contest.

“Today, Bajwa has made it clear that Batala is his chosen seat. Even as other ticket contenders are still glued to the drawing board, he has already started his campaign. Round one surely goes to the MP,” said an MLA. Bajwa said the election manifestos should be made legal documents. “In Canada, they pull up the people’s representatives who do not fulfil their poll promises. Why cannot it be implemented in Punjab?” he said.

‘No differences with Chief minister’

MP Partap Singh Bajwa said he had reconciled his differences with the CM. “You must have noticed that I have been giving him issue-based support. It was at my behest that he agreed to increase the sugarcane SAP. If the issue at hand is just in nature, I will continue to support him in the future too,” he said.

Bajwa throws hat in the ring from Batala
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