Kejriwal calls victory ‘historic’, lauds Mann

CHANDIGARH: As Aam Aadmi Party breached the Congress stronghold with its candidate Sushil Rinku defeating his nearest rival and the grand old party’s nominee Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll, party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal hailed the victory as ‘historic’ and said it is people’s recognition of the good work done by chief minister Bhagwant Mann and his government in Punjab.

The win gives the ruling AAP in Punjab and Delhi its only member in the Lok Sabha.

“It’s an unprecedented victory because of the Mann government’s good work. Our party candidate is winning from the seat which was a Congress stronghold for the last 50 years,” Kejriwal said in a press conference at the party headquarters in Delhi. The much-needed victory has also come as a shot in the arm for the Aam Aadmi Party as the bypoll was being seen as a litmus test for the Arvind Kejriwalled outfit which had faced a drubbing in the Sangrur Lok

Sabha bypoll last year, just three months after it stormed to power in Punjab in March 2022.

Mann, who was with Kejriwal, said the bypoll result is the people’s “positive stamp” on the work done by his government in the state so far. “The election result has increased our responsibility and our confidence. We will work much harder for the development of Punjab,” Mann said, hoping that AAP will win all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab next year.

Taking on his rivals Mann said, “Good luck to those, who abused us and made objectionable comments against us. Now, they also must realise that people want good education for their children, jobs for their children, free treatment to elderly.”

“Instead of the politics of mudslinging, we should talk about development. I hope those who have lost will change their line and agenda in the coming days,” Mann added.

The election result has increased our responsibility and our confidence BHAGWANT MANN, Punjab CM