Lambi Race – AAP fields Jarnail Singh against CM Badal

Taking his party’s poll battle to Lambi – the home turf of Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron Parkash Singh Badal – Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal proposed the candidature of his AAP MLA Jarnail Singh on the seat. Kejriwal wants Jarnail, one of AAP’s in-charges for Punjab, to contest against Badal in the Assembly polls..

“We have to defeat the Badals. That’s why I propose the name of our lion, Jarnail Singh, to fight against Prakash Singh Badal,” Kejriwal said while addressing a rally in Lambi.

Reacting to Jarnail’s nomination, Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh said in a tweet that the move reeked of an “underhand deal” with AAP colluding with the Akalis to ensure Badal’s victory.

Kejriwal responded by asking the Congress leader if he will fight against the Badals, Bikram Singh Majithia or from a “safe seat”.

Jarnail Singh (43), who is AAP legislator from Rajouri Garden, had also unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from West Delhi on the party ticket.

Early this year, the party elevated Singh as co-in-charge of Punjab and its spokesperson in the state.

The AAP has already fielded prominent leaders like its Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann from Jalalabad, a seat represented by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal; and Himmat Singh Shergill against revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia.

(with agency inputs)