After having made its presence felt in Punjab during the Lok Sabha elections, the Aam Admi Party is now focussing on the elections to be held in the agrarian State.
With so many NRIs from Punjab, a team of AAP members will soon be flying to Canada to garner support of the large Punjabi Diaspora.
AAP leaders said political parties are already trying to woo the Punjabi emigrants as they feel that the community can play a significant role in the 2017 Assembly polls in Punjab.
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Delegations of Akalis led by Ministers, are touring various countries where a sizable number of Punjabis is settled. “The popularity of the AAP in Punjab is huge, more than Delhi. Even leaders from various political parties are keen to join the party,” said an AAP leader.
Refuting reports of internal conflict in the AAP and of the party forming an alliance with Manpreet Badal-led People’s Party of Punjab, another AAP leader said that the party is going strong and people are fed up with ‘family’ politics.
A survey was also conducted by the party in Punjab in which corruption and agrarian crisis in the State have emerged as the two main election issues. With the AAP giving, perhaps, the maximum compensation to farmers in Delhi — Rs.20,000 per acre and Rs.50,000 per hectare — the party will gain from it in Punjab.
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“Farmers in Punjab are looking up to the party as they are hopeful that their financial woes will be taken care of and compensated well in case of a crisis,” said the AAP leader.
While there were reports of Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, also flying to Canada, the party has rubbished it, saying, “A delegation will go to Canada but not Mr Kejriwal.” The AAP convenor, however, will go to Punjab and campaign for the party only six months before the elections.
AAP said political parties are already trying to woo Punjabi emigrants as they feel the community can play a significant role in the 2017 Assembly polls in Punjab