Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday slammed the Congress and Akali Dal over their "high-handedness" allegation against the AAP government in the zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls, saying they have accepted their defeat in the elections. Congress leader and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi alleged that the AAP government in the state had printed fake ballot papers for the December 14 Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections. Referring to Channi's statement, Mann took on the Congress and reminded it that the AAP supported the grand old party over the issue of "vote theft" whereas it was questioning the polling through ballot papers in Punjab. Mann also highlighted the Congress' defeat in Bihar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and bypolls in Punjab and asserted that where they register victory in polls, then voting process is right and where they lose, they start "crying".
Addressing the media here, Mann lambasted Channi, saying he made an "irresponsible" statement and also spoke four colloquial Punjabi phrases including 'Hath na pahunche, thoo kori' (which means out of reach) to lash out at the Congress. These four idioms are suitable for Congress which lose because of their "misdeeds" and blame others, he said. "Charanjit Singh Channi who was the chief minister for 111 days made an irresponsible statement that AAP printed 100 ballot papers each with AAP symbol printed on them at each polling booth. If you analyze it then it shows, actually they have accepted their defeat," said Mann. "Both the Congress and Akali Dal have accepted their defeat in the rural polls but are accusing the AAP government of high-handedness against opposition candidates," the chief minister claimed.
Giving details of the zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls, Mann said out of 2,833 zones of block samitis, 340 AAP candidates, three Congress nominees and eight Independents have been elected unopposed. "If the Congress and independent candidates were elected unopposed, then wasn't there any high-handedness in these seats?" Mann asked. He said AAP's 2,771 candidates, Congress' 2,433, SAD's 1,814, BJP's 1,127, BSP's 195, SAD (Amritsar)'s three and 686 others are fighting the panchayat samiti polls. "How were the nomination papers of opposition candidates found to be correct?" he asked rhetorically.
Opposition parties had earlier targeted the ruling AAP, accusing it of misusing official machinery in preventing their candidates from filing their nomination papers and rejecting their candidature. He said there are a total of 347 Zila Parishad zones. For these zones, Congress is fighting 331 zones, Akali Dal 298, BJP 215, BSP 50, SAD (Amritsar) 4 and 143 others. A total of 1,396 candidates are contesting the Zila Parishad polls. Nomination papers of these candidates were also accepted, he said. Targeting the Congress, Mann said after losing recent elections in Bihar, they blamed the BJP for their defeat. "Ask Tejashwi Yadav. He says the Congress defeated him. Last time, Congress took 60 seats, but won 16-17 seats. This time they took 63 seats and won only 6 seats.
Actually, the Congress does not introspect, he said, adding that in Delhi, they do not blame anyone because they do not win any seat there. "In Punjab, they accuse us of printing ballot papers. Tell Channi saab, where we printed ballot papers. In reality, they have accepted their defeat," said Mann. The CM asked Channi that the Congress should boycott the polls if he thinks that the AAP printed the ballot papers. Mann alleged that rival political parties are supporting common candidates against the AAP by forming an alliance for the rural polls. Lashing out at the Sukhbir Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal, Mann said the 'B' in SAD is 'Beadbi' and 'badmash', alleging that it gave tickets to the relatives of a gangster. "Akali Dal has decided to seek votes from people at gunpoint," he alleged.
Lambasting Channi while referring to recent Navjot Kaur Sidhu's 'Rs 500 crore for chief minister's chair remark' that sparked a political row, Mann alleged, the Congress has opened a 'Neelaam Ghar' (auction house). You put your chits there. If somebody else offered a high rate then what will you do? If you do not get the CM chair, then think about deputy CM post." "Navjot Kaur Sidhu is revealing the rates of posts in the Congress", he said. They (opposition) consider Punjab a "saleable material", he said. One has clearly said that make me Punjab CM otherwise he was happy working on TV, said Mann while referring to Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Taking on former chief minister Amarinder Singh, Mann said he has now started abusing the BJP. "If nobody listens to you, then resign," he said, adding that he likes the Congress culture. He also spoke about the Congress' defeat in Haryana, MP and Bihar polls. He said in Gujarat bypoll, Congress fielded its candidate despite knowing that AAP has its nominee there just to make BJP candidate win. However, the AAP candidate won, said Mann. He further highlighted the Congress' defeat in Tarn Taran, Ludhiana West, Jalandhar West, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal and Gidderbaha bypolls.
Targeting the rival parties, Mann said they have accepted their defeat in the polls. "They have come to know that people are not with them. That is why they start alleging that AAP looted votes. Why can't they introspect?" he asked. Mann spoke about 600 units of free electricity, water for irrigation reaching the last mile and good condition of roads, opening of mohalla clinics, and 17 toll plazas shut in villages. "We are seeking votes based on our works. But, they (opposition) are crying that their papers were snatched," the chief minister said.