(MOREPIC2)BY ANMOL RATTAN
Speculations were rife that hung assembly would be the outcome of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. But from a khicdi government, public mandate has thrown a big feast of savory shahi paneer to AAP by handing it a landslide victory on March 10, 2022.
This one- sided big win by Aam Admi Party (AAP) has brought a new dawn of hope in the politics of Punjab. The mandate is a thumping victory not only for the party, which is all set to form the government in the state for the first time, but it is also a testimony that the voter of Punjab has awaken from the political ennui and is ready to embrace change for a better Punjab.
Though a long bumpy road is to be traveled ahead to bring the state back on the path of development or to restore the lost glory, there is every reason to celebrate this win at the moment. The political stalwarts who were dreaming big have fallen flat after shocking and embarrassing drubbings at the hands of naïve candidates fielded by AAP.(SUBHEAD)(MOREPIC1)
The victory of Labh Singh Ugoke, whose parents are labourers, over the incumbent CM Charanjit Channi is a perfect example of this new phenomenon at the political front. Whether these new entrants of the legislative assembly live up to the expectation of the people or not, one thing has become clear that those who fail the people, will be failed in equal measures by the people.
The NRIs, who had turned their back on the state after a disappointed show by AAP for which they had canvassed passionately in 2017, are delighted to see the party winning with a bang in 2022. They must be ready to invest big to pull the ever- dwindling economy of Punjab from a deep crisis. Investors must also be given sops to make investment in setting up industries in the state. Health and education sector too is expected to witness a sizeable progress.
Drug menace and sand mafia must be dealt with iron hand. All the valid pending demands of the employees must be settled with and the contract employees must be merged in the main stream service. These are quick questions that party will have to deal with soon after resuming power. The biggest concerns with regard to receding ground water, dwindling energy and agriculture sector and rising unemployment will be required to give top- most priorities.
Anyways, a new political revolution has ushered in Punjab and every Punjabi has a reason to take pride in sowing the seeds of this new crop of progress and we must relish this change, for change is in the air!