Chandigarh 19 Apr 2019, Led by Congress Lok Sabha candidate and former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Congress leaders, activists, workers and supporters took out a massive padyatra in Manimajra on Friday late evening. An estimated 3,000 people participated in the march down the streets of the most populous area of the city. The huge response to the padyatra was an indication of the growing support for the Congress in the runup to the May 19 elections.The padyatra, which started from Shitla Mata Mandir passed through Mori Gate, old Ropar road and Manimajra market before culminating at the temple again.
The padyatra was jointly organised by former Mayor Gurcharan Kala, who recently joined the Congress, and senior Congress leader Rameshwar Giri. Today Kala demonstrated that he still commands a huge following in the area, which is an ominous sign for the beleaguered BJP.
All those who participated in the march were state Congress President Pardeep Chhabra, General Secretary Harmohinder Singh Lucky, former Mayor Subhash Chawla and senior leader Surinder Singh.
Former BJP Senior Deputy Mayor holds Congress hand
Chandigarh, April 19: Former BJP Senior Deputy Mayor Satish Kainth today made his return to the Congress fold alongwith his few dozen supporters in the presence of the entire local leadership of the party at the Congress Bhawan, Sector 35. Chandigarh Lok Sabha candidate from Chandigarh Pawan Kumar Bansal and state party President Pardeeep Chhabra welcomed Kainth into the party fold.
Speaking on the occasion, Bansal said BJP activists had lost faith with their leadership and are making a beeline for joining the Congress impressed with its policies and style of functioning.
Describing the rule of the BJP at the Centre and in Chandigarh as “shuniyakal”, the former Union Minister said in five years the party had set this beautiful city back by decades. They had divided society on rekigious and caste lines and viciated the atmosphere in the country.
He said Congress is a truly democratic party which carries all sections of society with it. Today the country’s democratic character is in danger. People who talk in the interests of the nation are branded as anti-nationals, he added.
Kainth described Congress as the only party which considered the interests of the nation foremost. The BJP had not measured up to the excpectations of the residents of Chandigarh and had mismanaged the affairs of the Municipal Corporation.
