AAP’s Topi walas flood Punjab fields,poll bugles sounded for 2017 polls

Bugles for forthcoming State Assembly polls in Punjab state in 2017 were trumpeted at Maghi fair in the village Muktsar  in the Agrarian state of Northern India this week.

 Much to surprise of many,politically fledging outfit of  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made ripples by drawing maximum crowd in its Pandal.The Ruling Shiromani  Akali Dal (SAD) and its arch Rival Congress observed the developing situation ,and their leaders cautioned  people to be cautious of “Topi-Walas”.

 AAP workers ,who visualize Punjab throne in their striking range,generally sport  white Gandhian caps and contest on plank of anti-corruption stances. Many of them were wearing green and pink mufflers.

After emerging victorious in the Delhi Assembly  polls in 2014 which was the year of Narendra Modi who had swept the general Elections, AAP’s  eyes are riveted towards Punbjab.They had won  67 seats out of 70 seats in the Qusai-State Assembly in the National Capital ,which has dominant electorate from the upper middle classes and Babus.AAP had left all observers dumb founded with its striking performance.

 Now Arvind Kejriwal whose party won all its four members of Lok Sabha from the state is eying the Punjab state  where anti-incumbency is weighing heavily against the incumbent   Akali Dal-BJP combine.  The Ruling is trying to defend the wicket to hit hat-trick.

The Grand Old Party Congress which is buoyed  with the Mahagathbandhan Success in the Hindi state of Bihar where it is the part of the Ruling Combine of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad ,pins lot of hopes on Punjab where it thinks AAP can not be a force to reckon with .

Its Newy appointed Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Cap. Amarinder Singh, a veteran of political games,posed in the Muktsar rally yesterday as he does not even name of Arvind Kejriwal and dubbed his supporters as “topi walas” despite the crowd was thin in the party pandal . he told people to that AAP had announced during Anna Hazare movement that it would not be a political out fit but he changed his colors later on.

AAP leaders have ruled out any truck with Congress ,citing their bitter experience of 2013 when it had taken outside support from Congress which was its main prop in the state Assembly.Irked over developments, Arvind Kejriwal had resigned and gambled for Fresh polls and came with majority.

In wake of the Bihar Like grand coalition, speculations were rife that such a  rainbow coalition might crystallize here ,but given animosity between main players-Congress and AAP, such an equation looked elusive here.

Congress, in a trump card move ,managed to win over estranged member of the Badal family and Newphew of Parkash Singh Badal, State Chief Minister  ,Manpreet Singh Badal who joined Congress today and merged his b People’s party of Punjab (PPP) in Congress.

 On Chess board,  pawns  are being laid ,but the question is who will be play it skillfully at the hustings . Amarinder Singh is also an ace chess player and the  Maker-Sankaranti day ,merger speaks volumes of fast changing political scenario in the state  which witnessed major terror strike at the Pathankot Air base and drug trafficking links are suspected t o have played some role in sneaking of terrorists from across borders.

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal,playing emotional chord, sported a bright yellow turban ,started his speech with “Jo Bole So Nihal” and has promised stern action the drug menace plaguing the state besides Sit probe into 194 riots,huge compensation to farmers on lines of Delhi to save them from suicides,setting up of cancer hospital and dispensaries in all Mohallas( localities).

Punjab Deputy  CM Sukbhir Singh Badal has asked people to ensure that these topi- walas to run away from the state .

Arvind Kejriwal asserted when Badals’ Tau Narendra Modi could not scare him, CM Parkash Singh Badal said aap leaders are best theatrics and they are trying to mis lead people while Amarinder Singh said being a Haryanvi,  Kejriwal will work against interests of the state. All such diatribes indicate towards  kind of the campaign is in store for 117 members state assembly.  Manpreet Badal party merger has resulted into a quit change on the ground. Manpreet was removed from SAD in 2010 due to after difference with his cousin Sukh bir Singh Badal and later he floated his own out fit in 2011 but could not win any seat in 2012  though he pocketed 5.04 per cent votes but Congress lost polls by 0.8 per cent votes. in 2007, they had lost by one per cent votes. 
  Interestingly, Manpreet fought Lok Sabha polls in 2014 on Congress symbol in Bhatinda constituency but lost to Ms. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, by a margin of 19,974 votes.
 This time, Congress does not want any split of votes ,and now they plan to stitch deal with BSP, CPM , CPI also for a grand coalition.
  PPP which was approached by AAP too, chose Congress because of its larger frame work and it decided to take his 11 points  agenda of Punjab transformation as its ( Cong) agenda. Both  CPI and CPM despite decrease in their vote shares,had got 2.49 and 2.09 respectively against their 2007 performance of 3.31 per cent and 2.25 per cent  respectively.
   BSP vote share  had increased from 4.13 per cent to 4.30 in 2012 polls. The BSP could not win any seat in 2012 polls.
  AAP had pocketed four seats in 2014 Lok Sabhs polls and had pocketed 25 per cent of vote shares with four Lok Sabha seats. with this background, they are optimistic of clinching the deal for rule in the state.