Congress Dhuri candidate Dalvir Singh banks on development projects, says rival Bhagwant Mann not serious about constituency

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Congress candidate and sitting legislator Dalvir Singh Goldy from Punjab’s Dhuri seat has challenged the AAP’s chief ministerial face Bhagwant Mann for an open debate on the issue of development works, claiming the comedian has nothing to show to the people.

Goldy is locked in a high-stake electoral battle with Mann, who is the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) CM face and candidate from Dhuri. The Shiromani Akali Dal has fielded former Sangrur legislator Parkash Chand Garg from Dhuri seat.

Dhuri is one of the assembly constituencies of the Sangrur Parliamentary seat. Mann is a two-time MP from Sangrur.

With the AAP’s CM candidate Mann being nominated from Dhuri, this assembly seat has shot into limelight.

The 40-year-old Goldy is banking upon several development projects carried out in Dhuri constituency in the last five years.

We have done a lot of development work in the constituency and have been serving people of this area for five years, says Goldy who had remained active in student politics and was president of the Panjab University Campus Student’s Council in 2005-06.

Sharing detail about several works undertaken by him in his constituency, Goldy told PTI in an interview that volleyball grounds were set up in 57 villages while 32 km-long roads were developed and re-carpeted, fire brigade at district level, mini fire brigade system at village level were set up and new sewerage system was laid.

Asked as to how he sees Mann as an opponent from Dhuri, Goldy says, I see him as a comedian not a serious politician.

Mann is just singing paeans to the Arvind Kejriwal’s government to fool people during his speeches, says Goldy.

The AAP had declared comedian-turned-politician Mann as its chief ministerial face after conducting a survey.

Mann has never shared any vision for Punjab, says Goldy while pointing out that the AAP candidate never spoke about the depleting underground water table as Dhuri falls in the dark zone.

“Mann has been never heard speaking about sports, education and health system,” says the Congress candidate.

I do not find him sincere about Dhuri constituency, says Goldy and added that, If he is so sincere, then he should first resign as an MP and then fight polls from Dhuri”.

Had he done something for the people of the state, he would not have needed to show the Delhi model to the people of Punjab, says Goldy.

Noting that Mann was never seen in Dhuri except during the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Goldy says being an MP he could have done something for the people of Dhuri.

Goldy asked Mann to hold an open debate with him to give an account of any development work which he carried out for Dhuri constituency.

I challenge him to hold an open debate with me. He should tell his best five development works and I will also share my five best development activities, says Goldy.

The Congress candidate is running a ‘Dhuri Meri Mitti, Dhuri Mera Parivar’ (Dhuri my land, Dhuri my family) poll campaign in his constituency and going door-to-door for canvassing.

He says he belongs to Dhuri while the AAP and SAD candidates are outsiders.

Goldy was elected MLA in 2017 after he defeated the AAP candidate Jasvir Singh by a margin of 2,811 votes.

Dhuri is primarily a rural segment comprising 74 villages. It has 1.63 lakh voters including 77,000 women.