Punjab CM rallies for Gidderbaha bypolls candidate, takes swipe at Manpreet Badal

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recently addressed public gatherings to support AAP candidate Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon for the Gidderbaha by-election, scheduled for Tuesday.

During his speech, Mann took a swipe at opposition parties and his former colleague, Manpreet Singh Badal. “My old colleague Manpreet Badal has spent 16 years speaking Urdu. Now, only a few people stand by him,” Mann remarked. He claimed to be well-acquainted with Badal’s track record and suggested that voters would soon assess his contributions.

Badal responded, saying, “I think less educated people object to stocks,” implying that time would reveal Mann’s accomplishments. The by-elections for Gidderbaha and three other seats—Barnala, Dera Baba Nanak, and Chabbewal—were initially scheduled for November 13 but will now be held on November 20, with results expected on the 23rd.

In his address, Mann used the English phrase “Time is the best healer,” urging voters to stay patient. Reflecting on Punjab’s political history, he noted, “You have been patient for 30 years. Thirteen years have passed under Wading, and another 16 years were spent by my former friend speaking Urdu, but nothing was achieved.”

Highlighting Badal’s political journey, Mann recalled the formation of the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) by Badal.

CM Mann said Badal had frequently switched political allegiances, shifting from Gidderbaha to Bathinda and later to Ludhiana, aligning with different parties as opportunities arose. Referring to the opposition, Mann warned voters to be cautious of the leaders’ intentions: “These people don’t spare anyone; they’ll take everything, from sand and gravel to the local samosa vendor.”