CHANDIGARH: Even as political leaders across parties held their breath ahead of the results of Punjab assembly elections amid fears of poaching, the Congress has called a meeting of its Congress Legislative Party (CLP) of the newly-elected MLAs on Thursday evening.
In what is being seen as an attempt to keep the flock together in case of a fractured mandate, Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu tweeted, “It has been decided that the First Congress Legislative Party meeting will be held on 10th March at the PPCC office (Congress Bhawan, Sector 15) at 5 pm. All newly-elected Punjab Congress MLAs are requested to kindly attend.”
Earlier in the day, Sidhu had a meeting with Congress observer for the state Ajay Maken and party’s incharge of Punjab affairs Harish Choudhary. On the other hand, CM Charanjit Singh Channi discussed the possible poll outcome with a small group of party leaders, including cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu.
Meanwhile, AAP co incharge of Punjab affairs Raghav Chadha claimed that people of Punjab had voted in favour of his party and Bhagwant Mann was to become the next chief minister.
“Almost all exit polls have predicted that AAP will form the next government. We are confident of getting an absolute majority. The Punjab results will also establish AAP and Arvind Kejriwal as a national force that will be an alternative to the Congress at the national level,” he said.
While Mann will be in his assembly constituency Dhuri on the day of the results, preparations were in full swing outside his rented house in Sangrur. A stage was being erected along with a DJ system and police had done barricading to step up security in the area.
In case AAP wins the elections, Arvind Kejriwal’s address from Delhi will also be shown to the crowd that will gather there.
“In case the Congress falls short of majority with 40-odd seats, there will definitely be fear of poaching. Meanwhile, the party is also likely to roach out to the former party leaders who fought the elections as independents,” said a Congress leader.
