Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said that Shiromani Akali Dal will give adequate representation to youth and some fresh faces in 2017 assembly polls will be fielded. He also said that performance of each legislator would be evaluated for winability and decision would be taken after holding consultations with people of constituency represented by concerned legislator. He was interacting with mediapersons after paying obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib along with Union Minister Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal.Badal further said 2017 general elections would be contested on development plank and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) would form government for consecutive third time. Coming to Khadoor Sahib by-poll, Deputy Chief Minister said it is unprecedented and for first time that opposition parties including Congress and novice AAP have shown their back to electoral fight. Taking a dig, he said crushing defeat in Talwandi Sabo assembly by-poll made AAP and Congress ran away from electoral field with AAP forfeiting even its deposit. Commenting further, S. Badal said that Congress and AAP have lost confidence in capabilities of their cadres. He termed AAP good for entertainment purpose while commenting upon Gurpreet Ghuggi’s joining AAP.
Replying to a question about touring of villages by Punjab Congress Chief Captain Amarinder Singh under ‘Paggri Bachao’ campaign for farmers, Deputy CM said as Captain had himself declared that this is going to be his last election, it is a golden chance for him to tour villages which he couldn’t do during his tenure as CM. He further commented that if Captain is serious about his initiative then he should cultivate habit of waking up early like Chief Minister, S. Parkash Singh Badal, venture among people and listen to their grievances and address them. He said that even if captain covers 30 percent of state’s villages, it would be deemed as something special.Talking about development of Amritsar, S. Badal said that holy city would be given a beautified look by completing all projects by November this. He said that present government is trying to push big developmental projects which could have been done in previous 40 years, so people would have to wait a little bit more to enjoy fruits of development. He also reviewed various development projects being undertaken in Amritsar and gave necessary directions to officials.On the occasion, Chief Secretary SGPC, Harcharan Singh, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Pradeep Sabharwal, SDM Rohit Gupta, SGPC member Amarjeet Singh Chawla and other dignitaries were also present.