Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced that the Maghi conference of Shiromai Akali Dal (SAD) would mark the beginning of its electoral battle for 2017 assembly elections.
Addressing party workers here after taking stock of preparations for Maghi conference, Badal said 2016 conference would be the grandest in scale in comparison to the rallies of opposition parties and would herald the bugle of battle for 2017 elections.
Keeping this aspect in view, SAD has selected a large and spacious venue near Rupana village.
The Deputy CM further said the SAD is a party of Punjabis which has always stood by them through their thick and thin.
Buoyed by the success of sadbhavna rallies, he said the rallies have amply proven that the people of Punjab stood shoulder to shoulder with the SAD.
In a scathing attack on AAP, Badal said the party has not only failed in administrative affairs of Delhi but also backtracked from its poll promises.
Badal claimed that said only people who are sidelined by other parties join the ranks of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
He said the AAP leaders who talked about austerity stand had been totally exposed. They are now enjoying the fruits of power instead of taking steps to mitigate the problems of the Delhiites, who are devoid of even the basic necessities of life, Badal said.
Criticising the Congress, Badal said the party had never ever cared about safeguarding the interests of Punjab.
He said that the previous government in the state had done nothing to tackle the problem of waterlogging, whereas the SAD regime had commenced projects after deliberate planning to curb the menace in South Western districts of the state, efforts of which have started bearing fruit.
He further elaborated that the actual development of the state had taken place with SAD government at the helm.
The Deputy CM said in the upcoming year, Rs 6000 crore would be spent on rural development alone.
Besides, Rs 30-40 crore would be spent on developing assembly segments soon.
Badal announced that in the next five years, all the villages in the state would have CC flooring on the streets.
Similarly, infrastructure projects in 140 cities of the state were going on the war footing, he added.
