The Congress is rushing reinforcements from the national capital to Punjab’s Malwa to check the surge of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in a region crucial to any party seeking to form the state’s next government. The assessment by All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers suggest that the AAP is leading in 40-45 seats in Malwa, but trailing in Majha and Doaba. However, if the Malwa surge continues there are chances that Delhi chief minister Kejriwal’s party could form the next government in Punjab. Shiromani Akali Dal chief and Punjab deputy chief minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal, too had conceded that the AAP is posing a considerable challenge in Malwa. The Congress has identified 15-20 constituencies where it is in a neck-and-neck fight with the AAP, which is making its Punjab assembly polls debut.

Source: Hindustan Times January 29, 2017 14:41 UTC