We failed to make voters aware of large-scale development: Sukhbir Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal president and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday attributed the party’s loss in the assembly polls to its failure to make the electorate acquainted with large-scale development works undertaken in the past 10 years of its rule.

Sukhbir, who retained his assembly seat from Jalalabad, was addressing people at a community hall here.

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“We are carrying out an analysis of our defeat, and will overcome all shortcomings and form the government after the next assembly polls,” said the Akali leader in his first public address after the stunning defeat on Saturday.

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“Despite all the malicious campaign against Akali Dal in the polls, 31% voters of the state reposed their faith in us. We are thankful to them,” he said, accompanied by Akali MLA from Muktsar Kanwarjit Singh and other party leaders.

Targeting his rivals — AAP’s Bhagwant Mann and Congress leader Ravneet Bittu, both Lok Sabha members — Sukhbir said they were mere “fly-by-night candidates” who had been fielded from Jalalabad to “exploit your votes”.

“Now with the end of the poll season, the two have moved back to their constituencies, but I will always remain available to you,” he said, adding that his offices at Jalalabad and Mukstar will remain open for everyone.