A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured the Mayor’s post in Bathinda for a second consecutive term, its national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann are scheduled to visit Bathinda today to take part in a roadshow around 6 pm.
Notably, Bathinda has traditionally been considered a stronghold of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, is a fourth-term MP from Bathinda.
According to the AAP leadership, the roadshow is being organised as a show of strength following the party’s strong performance in the local body elections in the city, considered the political capital of South Malwa.
In the Bathinda Municipal Corporation, AAP has consolidated a clear majority with 35 councillors. The Congress has five councillors, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) three, the BJP one, and six Independents.
Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) president Amarjit Singh Mehta’s son, Padamjeet Singh Mehta, was re-elected Mayor on Thursday, while the elections for the posts of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor were deferred.
During his previous term, Padamjeet was the lone AAP councillor, but he managed to get elected as Mayor after taking the oath as a councillor just a few minutes prior. The Congress had a majority at that time. He had won the MC bypoll. During the roadshow, both Kejriwal and Mann are expected to interact with party workers, address supporters, and highlight the state government’s development agenda.
The party leaders are also likely to emphasise governance achievements and local development projects. Meanwhile, security arrangements have been tightened across key routes in Bathinda in view of the high-profile visit.
A large number of people are expected to participate in the event scheduled at Sadbhawana Chowk, where the Mayor plans to install a clock tower in the coming days.
